Andrea Gjestvang is a Norwegian photographer based between Oslo and Berlin, where she takes assignments and works on long-term, personal documentary projects.
With an intimate photographic approach, she explores contemporary social issues in the northern hemisphere. In 2023, she published the book Atlantic Cowboy (GOST Books), which documents the impact of a shortage of women in the Faroe Islands. In 2011, she began the project One Day in History, with portraits of the young survivors of the 22nd of July 2011 terrorist attack at Utøya island, Norway. The portraits gained international recognition, exhibitions and awards, including the prestigious L'Iris d'Or/Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year 2013.
After graduating from OsloMet, Gjestvang has worked on assignment and published work with international publications such as National Geographic, Time Magazine, The New York Times, Stern, Newsweek Japan, M Le Monde, Mare magazine and Verdens Gang, amongst others. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums such as Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing, Munchen Stadtmuseum and The National Photographic Museum of Colombia.
Over the years, Gjestvang has gained solid experience working as a picture editor and teacher in photography, and she has curated exhibitions.
Andrea Gjestvang is a member of Panos Pictures.
Main solo exhibitions
2022 - Atlantic Cowboy, Freelens Galerie, Hamburg
2022 - Atlantic Cowboy, Kunstbanken Hedmark Kunstsenter, Norway
2021 - 2022 - 22nd July: 10 Years, the 22nd July Center, Oslo
2021 - One Day in History, Fotografihuset, Oslo
2020 - Return, Salut au Monde! Porto
2016 - Tilbake/Return, Galleri Nord Norge, Harstad
2015 - Tilbake/Return, Galleri Hamar Kulturhus, Norway
2014 - One Day in History & Everybody Knows This This is Nowhere, Galleri Vasli Souza, Malmö
2013 - Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, Vadsø Kunstforening, Norway
2013 - One Day in History, 6x6 Centre of Photography, Cyprus
2010 - Disappearing Ice Age, Freelens Galerie, Hamburg
2010 - Disappearing Ice Age, Galeria Open Mind, Milan, Italy
Main group exhibitions
2023 - The 136th Annual Autumn Exhibition, Oslo
2023 - Atlantic Cowboy, Les Boutographies, Montpellier
2022 - Return / We Are Family, Centro Niemeyer, Avilés
2022 - 2023 - NOWEHRE - On persons and landscapes. Edvard-Munch-Haus, Rostock
2020 - 2021 - Portrait of our time, Preus Photography Museum, Horten
2019 - 2020 - Norwegian Documentary Photography, Henie Onstad Kunstsenter
2019 - The Human Condition, Künstlerhaus Dortmund
2019 - Nordic Life, Fotografiska, Stockholm
2019 - Memory and Resilience, National Photographic Museum of Colombia
2018 - Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, Kitan Center, Tel Aviv
2017 - Keep Your Eyes Peeled, aff Galerie, Berlin
2016 - 2017 - Underway, Sørlandets Kunstmuseum SKMU, Kristiansand
2016 - (Mis/Dis)Placed, Benaki Museum, Athens
2014 - One Day in History, Lumix Festival for Young Photojournalism
2014 - Les Rencontres de Photographie, Arles, France (screening)
2013 - One Day in History, Sommerset House, London
2013 - Munchner Stadtmuseum - Stranger World
2013 - Fluid Identities, Benaki Museum, Athens
2012 - Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, Lumix Festival for Young Photojournalism
2011 - Greenland, V Art Center, Shanghai
2011 - Greenland, Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA), Beijing
2011 - Menotrentuno_03: Young European Photography, Su Palatu, Sardinia
2011 - Hope: Between Dream and Reality, New York Photo Festival
2010 - Greenland, Lumix Festival for Young Photojournalism
2006 - The 119th Annual Autumn Exhibition
2006 - Vestlandsutstillingen, Norway
Grants and awards
2023 - Les Boutographies: The Reponses photo Prize
2022 - Ingerid, Synnøve & Elias Fegersten's foundation, artist grant
2020 - 2022 - Norwegian Art Council work grant
2021, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002 - Picture of the Year Norway
2014 - People's Choice Prize, Freelens Award
2013 - Winner of L'Iris d'Or – Photographer of the Year Sony World Photography Awards
2013 - Winner of FotoVisura Grant for outstanding Personal Photography project
2013 - Winner of the Norwegian Picture of the Year Award
2013 - 1st prize NPPA Best of Photojournalism
2012 - PDN’s 30 Emerging Photographers to Watch
2012 - Freelancer of the Year awarded by the Norwegian Journalist Union
2011 - 2013 - Norwegian Journal of Photography (NJP)
2010 - 17th World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass
Plus several grants from the Norwegian Arts Council, the Freedom of Expression Foundation, VG-Bildkunst etc.
Collections
Preus Museum photography collection
OsloMet Art Collection
Region Skånes Art Collection
Hedmark Fylkeskommunes Art Collection
Private collections
Books
Lofoten, Mare Verlag, 2023 (ISBN: 978-3-86648-730-7)
Atlantic Cowboy, GOST Books, 2023 (ISBN: 978-1-910401-88-)
En dag i historien, Pax Forlag, 2012 (ISBN: 9788253035413)
Book contribution
100 Norwegian Photographers, Hatje Cantz 2019
Nordic Life, Max Ström 2019
Nordic Now! Filter/Objektiv/PhotoRaw 2013
Norwegian Journal of Photography #1, Journal 2013
Norsk Dokumentarfotografi, Press 2009