Merete Mowinckel

Artist based in Bergen.

Her practice weaves together drawing, painting, illustration, photography and digital blending into layered compositions imbued with visual tactility.
Drawing inspiration from children’s book illustrations and the evocative atmospheres of the Renaissance, Mowinckel intertwines nostalgia with en exploration of the human inner world. She often depicts animals with anthropomorphic qualities, using their expressions and gestures to reflect the complexities of human emotions. Her works create moments of wonder, inviting both children and adults to experience a sense of recognition; something both shared and deeply personal.
Mowinckel’s art evokes interspecies communication and planetary intelligence, prompting viewers to reconsider the boundaries between humans, animals and the natural world.

Featured work: The Alchemist (2023)

In The Alchemist (2023), the central figure is an adolescent. Wearing a black suit and aviation goggles, he emanates a quiet melancholy. His posture is tense: one hand outstretched as if functioning as a runway for a small wooden biplane, while the other may gently cradle a leaf. The setting evokes an intimate dream world: the dim cave-like background contrasts with the warm glow of hanging light bulbs. The alchemical transmutation unfolding before us is, in fact, a metamorphosis rooted in childhood nostaliga, signified by the discarded toy on the floor. While wisdom and attentiveness are embodied by the owl, poised to be recharged from the back. The deer at the centre and the flight recorder in the corner, a memento of a journey not yet started, but seemingly serving as a cautionary warning.

Background & resonance

With a background in nursing and years of experience in end-of-life care, Mowinckel has engaged in profound conversations on reconciliation, transition and the deeper dimensions of existence. These encounters have enriched her artistic approach, making her work not only visually compelling but also as a catalyst for dialogue. Her pieces are embraced by therapists, healthcare professionals and educators as tools for fostering meaningful discussions on value, meaning and transformation.

The atelier

You can visit Merete’s quaint atelier in the heart of Bergen right by the famous pier and Fløibanen funicular at Lille øvregaten 16.