Kjell Varvin
Kjell Varvin (born in Bærum in 1939) is a Norwegian visual artist working with drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and installation. Lines, geometric forms and the relationship between plane and space are central to his practice. He studied in Oslo, Paris, Seville and Barcelona, among other places. (Kunstnerforbundet; NKL)
From nature to free geometry
Early works drew on abstracted impressions of nature, sometimes including figurative or surrealist elements. By the late 1970s his language had become nonfigurative. NKL describes the geometry of Aria I, exhibited in 1980, and charcoal against blue and green tones in Glasshus, exhibited in 1982. (NKL)
In an interview with Tegnerforbundet, Varvin describes an open process: ground colours prepare the sheet, then drawing generates rhythms and forms as he works. He also draws on screenprints and paints on drawings. Medium labels are therefore less clear-cut than the motif alone might suggest. (Tegnerforbundet)
Sculpture and changing installations
Spatial arrangements have been prominent since the 1990s. For Fri Geometri: Ustabile Variabler at Kunstnernes Hus in 2017, Varvin used welded steel rods, painted panels and industrial surplus material. Compositions were photographed, dismantled and rebuilt. Drawing extended into space, where viewers’ positions affected their experience. (Kunstnernes Hus)
The University of Bergen describes an installation from 1992 and 1993 combining painted lines and sculptural steel elements within one spatial work. Wall, drawing and sculpture merge. Its geometry relates to the architecture as well as to a discrete object. (University of Bergen)
Couple (1996) is a different kind of work. KORO lists it as a sculpture and wall installation in welded iron, measuring 58 x 60 x 10 cm. The specific material and format offer firmer comparison points than the broad term “free geometry”. (KORO)
The changing practice continued at Galleri F 15 in Intermediary Stages of a Never-Ending Process. When the exhibition reopened in autumn 2021, the artist developed new arrangements from already painted surfaces and selected works in the rooms. (Galleri F 15)
Varvin has also collaborated with Per Hess. Høstutstillingen 2025 presented Kjell og Pers stige (2024), an installation of welded iron, hand-blown glass tubes and neon, measuring 325 x 50 x 27 cm. The work must be understood and recorded as a collaboration between both artists. (Høstutstillingen)
Identification, documentation and condition
For works on paper, establish whether the surface is drawn, painted, printed or further worked by hand. Record materials, dimensions, date, signature and numbering as they actually appear. Calling a sheet a screenprint alone does not establish individual additions or the edition to which it belongs.
Sculptures and installations should retain ownership records, component counts, overall photographs and any installation instructions. Distinguish a documentary photograph from the physical installation it shows. Describe rust, paint loss, breaks and altered welds specifically. For paper, record surface wear, stains, folds and framing traces without confusing original working marks with later damage.
See also
Read more about artist signatures, provenance and ownership history.
