Henie Onstad Kunstsenter is a leading venue for modern and contemporary art, situated at Høvikodden, 15 minutes west of Oslo. Henie Onstad opened in 1968 and was made possible by a generous donation from art collectors Sonja Henie and Niels Onstad. Located in scenic surroundings, Henie Onstad includes 3500 m2 of exhibition space, Henie Onstad Lab, meeting rooms, a museum shop and a cafe.
The art center hosts temporary exhibitions as well as the Henie Onstad collection, which includes works by Picasso, Matisse, Beuys, Christo and famous Norwegian artists such as Weidemann. Henie Onstad also has the permanent installation, ‘Hymn of life’, by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. The art center is also home to figure skater Sonja Henie's fantastic collection of medals and prizes.
Guided group tours are available all year round – contact booking@hok.no.
Artistic Profile
Henie Onstad Kunstsenter was established in 1968 as a donation of the collectors Sonja Henie and Niels Onstad. The choice of "Kunstsenter," rather than "museum," was deliberate, signaling that Henie Onstad was to be not only a keeper of a strong modern European collection, but also a producer of experimental art.
Today Henie Onstad is one of Norway's leading institutions for the Norwegian and International art scene. The Kunstsenter is an active arena for debate and social critique, with a broad commitment to the arts and its audience. Its expertise, collections and historical identity lie in the interdisciplinary field, with special emphasis on the relationship between art, sound, performance and the historical avant-garde.
The Collection
Since its establishment in 1968, The Henie Onstad Kunstsenter collection has grown substantially. From the approximately 300 works at the grand opening, the collection now includes over 4,000 works of art.
This inventory ranges from a core collection of modernist works (dates 1920-1960), to special collections related to the Fluxus and COBRA movements, as well as the works comprising the sculpture park and the contemporary works acquired in the past 20 years.
Henie Onstad manages several large collections deposited or on loan from the DNB Bank Foundation, as well as private collectors Inger and Andreas L. Riis, and Erling Neby. Henie Onstad frequently lends works from its collections to important international museums. Additionally, Henie Onstad manages a large archive, containing documents and photographs related to exhibition and performance history, and a collection of artists books. The Henie Onstad archive is of particular value because of the art center's long history of musical and performance art productions and its progressive interdisciplinary exhibition history.
Henie Onstad
Sculpture Park
The Henie Onstad Kunstsenter is located in the beautiful park and recreation area of Høvikodden on the Oslo fjord peninsula, surrounded by public trails, wharfs and shorelines. Our sculptures have close ties to Henie Onstad's exhibition history and are responsive to this scenic setting.
Towering at the sculpture park's entrance is Arnold Haukeland's Sun Sculpture from 1970. The sculpture was commissioned by Niels Onstad in memory of Sonja Henie. The park also houses the sculptures Jordkrefter, Runes and Nattens fugl by Haukeland.
Live program
With its annual concert series, Henie Onstad presents a vast lineup of concerts, performances and presentations with established and emerging musicians and artists.
Combining a strong exhibition program with a focus on music, dance and performance has been, and remains, a central part of Henie Onstad's profile. This original vision—of preserving the past, present and future art through dynamic and interdisciplinary activities—has continued to influence the Kunstsenter since its opening in 1968. Henie Onstad regularly partners with Ny Musikk, All Ears, The Ultima Festival, and NOTAM and is an important exhibition space for experimental performance arts and music.
Combine your visit to Henie Onstad with a nice lunch in the restaurant Piruetten, a stroll along the coastal path – a favourite among the locals – and a break by the beach overlooking the sunbathers and the nautic life at sea. Enjoy.
Easy acces from Oslo by public transport bus 160 to Henie Onstad Seniorsenter. Schedule at www.ruter.no
Member of Visit Greater Oslo