Street art rises in popularity among municipalities in Norway

Street art has gained significant popularity in Norwegian municipalities over recent years, with large murals appearing in various areas. Artist Bella Fasmer has been commissioned by Fredrikstad municipality to create a mural on a school wall, a task that would have seemed unimaginable in the past when street art and graffiti were prohibited. Koro, the organization dedicated to public art, has noted a rise in interest from municipalities across the country for such large-scale murals.

While some view this trend as a positive enhancement of urban environments, art critic Mona Pahle-Bjerke expresses skepticism towards commissioned street art, arguing that it can detract from the rebellious nature traditionally associated with street art.

Fasmer, who is painting a family of trolls on a concrete wall at Trara Primary School, describes the experience as fantastic yet enormous. This marks her third mural, her first being in Oslo. The increase in commissioned artwork reflects a growing openness and appreciation for street art among the public.

Urban Samtidskunst, an urban art resource center, has seen its most productive year since its establishment in 2012, with numerous projects involving emerging artists. They focus on temporary art, often creating figures on existing buildings.

Across Norway, murals on silos, schools, daycare centers, and housing blocks are becoming common as municipalities recognize the value of public art. However, Pahle-Bjerke argues that ordering street art paradoxically undermines its essence, as it traditionally emerges secretly and subversively.

Fasmer emphasizes the importance of respecting the beautiful yet forbidden aspects that street art has long represented, noting a mix of appreciation and criticism from the public regarding the evolving perception of this art form.