Lene Kilde: Figurative sculpture and childhood emotions
Norwegian artist Lene Kilde is renowned for her figurative sculptures that capture the essence of children’s emotions and personalities. At the core of her artistic research lies the language of the child’s body, which Kilde considers the most honest and authentic form of communication.
Working primarily with concrete and wire mesh, the artist fixes fleeting childhood gestures and postures, creating sculptures in which hands and feet are often fully formed, while fragments of clothing are rendered with meticulous precision and care.
The art of Lene Kilde
Lene Kilde’s sculptures are intentionally incomplete, inviting viewers to fill the visual gaps with their own imagination and to reconnect with memories of childhood. Each work—ideally composed of “concrete, wire mesh, and air”—conveys a strong sense of the subject’s character and emotional presence.
Curious children are depicted standing on tiptoe, reaching outward; shy figures appear awkward, with curled fingers and hesitant gestures; while adventurous children are portrayed in confident poses, with clenched fists and symbolic, evocative props. Suspended between presence and absence, Kilde’s sculptures create an emotional space in which fragility, imagination, and identity take shape.
Who is Lene Kilde
Lene Kilde was born in Rælingen, near Oslo, in 1980. She studied at the Asker School of Art and continued her education in sculpture at the Einar Granum School of Art in Oslo. In 2012, she earned a Master’s degree in Product Design from the Oslo and Akershus University College, and later received a three-year grant from the Norwegian Arts Council.
Her works have been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions across Europe, Switzerland, the United States, Dubai, Lebanon, and Taiwan. She has participated in major international art fairs, including SCOPE Basel and SCOPE Miami. Since January 2022, she has been represented in Italy by Galleria PUNTO SULL’ARTE, Varese.
Lene Kilde’s sculptures are included in private collections worldwide, and a large-scale installation has been acquired by NRK, Norway’s national public broadcasting company.
She currently lives and works in Sweden.
