Christer Karlstad

Christer Karlstad is a Norwegian painter whose work bridges classical technique with psychological and symbolic depth. Growing up in rural Norway during the 1980s, Karlstad’s artistic awakening came from a black-and-white image of August Cappelen’s Waterfall in Telemark—a moment that sparked a lifelong devotion to painting. A visit to the National Gallery soon after sealed his conviction, anchoring his practice in the Norwegian Romantic tradition while inspiring a deeply personal approach to narrative realism.

As part of the last generation of classically trained artists in Norway, Karlstad works with a commitment to mastery of craft and the integrity of storytelling. His paintings often depict figures, landscapes, and animals in charged, contemplative settings that hover between the real and the allegorical. Each composition becomes an exploration of solitude, vulnerability, and our evolving relationship with nature.

In recent years, Karlstad has turned his attention to the remnants of Norway’s vanishing old-growth forests—painting uprooted trees and overgrown clearings as portraits of resilience and loss. These landscapes, like his human subjects, serve as metaphors for identity, belonging, and impermanence.

“I try to be as honest as possible in everything I create,” Karlstad notes. “Using who you are, where you come from, and what you know—that’s the only way to communicate truthfully through art.” His contributions to Motherland reflect the perspective of one whose family never left Norway, offering a grounded counterpoint to the immigrant narratives woven through the project.

Instagram: @christer_karlstad

Website: Christer Karlstad