Eirik Gjedrem was born in 1959 in Ås, Akershus, Norway, and later settled in Søgne on the southern coast, where he continues to live and work. He is recognized as one of Norway’s leading contemporary ceramic artists, celebrated for his innovative techniques and organic, biomorphic forms. Gjedrem’s artistic journey began in the early 1980s, following an initial career as a carpenter. Fascinated by the expressive potential of clay, he pursued formal education in ceramics at Agder Folkehøgskole’s Keramikklinjen (1983–1984) and later at the Statens høgskole for kunsthåndverk og design (SHKD) in Bergen, where he completed his hovedfag in 1989. During his studies, he met his future wife, Ann Beate Tempelhaug, herself a ceramicist, with whom he would later collaborate closely. Gjedrem’s work is characterized by technical mastery and a deep engagement with materiality. He often employs press-mold techniques, creating custom plaster molds into which clay slabs are pressed to form organic, flowing shapes. His pieces frequently undergo multiple firings—sometimes five to ten—to achieve layered glazes and surface depth. He also explores coil-building methods and various imprint and cast techniques, pushing the expressive possibilities of clay. This meticulous approach allows him to balance surface texture, color, and form, producing works that appear almost alive and in motion. A central theme in Gjedrem’s work is the fluidity, rhythm, and movement of water. Inspired by the sea and aquatic life—such as corals, jellyfish, and shells—he seeks to evoke the weightless, immersive experience of being underwater. Daily dives and encounters with the natural world inform his forms and surface textures, resulting in biomorphic sculptures that capture a sense of organic growth and movement. Gjedrem has exhibited extensively both in Norway and abroad. His solo exhibitions have included shows at Kunstnerforbundet in Oslo, Sørlandets Kunstmuseum/Kunstsilo in Kristiansand, Kraft Bergen, Telemark Kunstsenter, Risør Kunstpark, and Centrum Goed Werk in Belgium. He has also participated in numerous group exhibitions in Europe, including Amsterdam and London. In addition to gallery work, Gjedrem has created public art installations for sites such as Jens Bjørneboes Plass in Kristiansand, Justvik School, Moldebadet in Molde, Badehallen in Skien, and the University of Tromsø. His contributions to contemporary ceramics have been recognized through numerous awards, including the Kunsthåndverkprisen for his work BOL in 1997, the Statens treårige arbeidsstipend in 1997, and the Award of Merit at the Fletcher Challenge Ceramics Award in New Zealand in 1998. From 2008 onward, he has received a long-term artist stipend from the Norwegian government, reflecting sustained support for his practice. Gjedrem’s works are included in major collections, such as the Nasjonalmuseet in Oslo, KODE Bergen Kunstmuseum, Sørlandets Kunstmuseum/Kunstsilo, the Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg, Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, and several corporate collections including Telenor. Today, Eirik Gjedrem continues to work from his studio in Søgne, often in close dialogue with Ann Beate Tempelhaug. Together, they explore the possibilities of clay through exhibitions and site-specific commissions, maintaining a lifelong dedication to the tactile and poetic potential of ceramics.
