History

Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium (Art Laboratory) is an art center that exhibits contemporary art by Norwegian as well as international artists. The art center is open from May to September every year, and has as a goal to make art interesting and available to everyone.

The history of Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium is remarkable. The former cellulose factory was founded in 1886. The factory was closed down in 1970, and was not in use for almost 30 years, until the artist Morten Viskum bought it in 2001.

From 2001 till 2003 work was initiated towards transforming the old building into an exhibition space. With its unique and rough character the building itself is a significant and successful example of the reuse of older architecture, and provides an interesting historical frame for the artistic expressions of our own time.

The institution opened its doors to the public in 2003, and since then shown new exhibitions every year. At present we have an annual summer programme from May to September.

Since 2013 the art center has covered 2500 square meters: Main building with café and bookshop, Exhibition Hall, Galleri Star, teaching room, conference room, offices, and the Guest Studio.

In the exhibition archive you can read about and look at pictures from all exhibitions previously shown at Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium, since the opening in 2003. And in the virtual gallery room you can view virtual 3D tours of all exhibitions from 2018 onwards.

–––

LIFT

2025 was the year we finally succeeded in installing the much-needed lift. This had been an ambition form the very start in 2003, but only now did we have the financial resources to accomplish it – thanks to support from Arts Council Norway and a gift from Sparebanken Øst, for which we are immensely grateful.