Tomas Colbengtson MFA
Tel +46 (0)73 651 59 87
e-mail:tomas@colbengtson.com
www.colbengtson.com
https://webmail.colbengtson.com
Tomas Colbengtson is Sami, born and grown up in a small village
Björkvattnet Tärna, at the border of Norway and Sweden.
In Tomas artwork, he asks how colonial heritage
has changed indigenous lives and landscapes,
both of the s.mi and other indigenous peoples.
Struggling to revitalize his mother tongue, south Sami
language, he works with visual art, using Sami history
and collective memory as the source to his art.
His work with printed art on different materia that cast
shadows can be read as a metaphor for governmental
invisibility of Sami people and culture.
In his art Tomas seeks to assemble a language to
formulate the loss but also rejuvenation of Sami
identity. Questions that is a global and effect everybody
in one or another way.
Colbengtson is initiator of one of the first art residence
for indigenous artists “Sapmi Salasta 2018.
Exhibitions:
Colbengston has exhibited in Austria, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, England,
Egypt, Faroeisland, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Greenland, Holland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Portugal,
Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Svalbard, Swiss, Sweden and USA
Tomas published books:
2024 ”Soejvene” ISBN 978-91-89945-12-8 Publisher: Korpen
2019 ”Faamoe” ISBN 978-91-98513-00-4 Publisher: Gaaltije
Colbengtson is represented amongst others in:
British museum, London
The National Museum, Oslo
Sami parlament of Norway
2024 Recipiant of the Queen Sonja Print Award
Public works:
Glass sculpture, Östersund city hall, Sweden
Commissioned by City of Östersund, 2023
Biessie giebnie, South Samie museum Snåsa, Norway
Commissioned by KORO, 2021
Tsigle-Pathfinder, glassculpture, Saxnäs, Sweden
Commissioned by Konstvägen 7 älvar
Initiator and curator of “Arctic Highway”, Indigenous art
exhibition that is touring in USA and Canada 2022–2024
Education:
Konstfack. 1986-91 MFA Painting
KHS Valand 195-96
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
2023 “Erindringar”Public sculpture Östersund cityhall Sweden
2020-2022 “Biessie Giebnie” Public sculpture Sæemie Sijte Snåsa Soutsæemie museum Norway
Commissioned by:Koro
2022 Leader of glass workshop, Pilchuck glass studios, Washington state, USA
2018-19 Art director and curator of “Sápmi salastá” Indigenous Artist Recidens Sweden
2018 Public work: “The dislocated – The recipiant” Granö Västerbotten
Commissioned by : Sjugnaregården
2018 Public work: “Tsïegle”Vägvisaren,Pathfinder Satsfjäll,Saxnäs Västerbotten
Commissioned by : Konstvägen sju älvar
30/11-4/12 2017 Art director of Indigienous conference Sapporo Japan ”The Colonial heritage” with Sæmie, Greenlandic and Ainu artists. Ainu center & Sapporo university Sapporo Japan
2016-2017 leader of glass workshop, Urban glass studios, Brooklyn, N.Y. USA
2015-18 Curating exhibitions with Faroeisland, Greenlandic, Nordic artists
2015 Curator of ”Vaapsten Bijre” Samisk art and duodji, Ájtte samemuseum Jokkmokk Sweden
2014 Curator of artexhibition ”Konstfack” Augeli museet Sweden
1998-2008 he was recident artist at KTH Royal institute of technology Stockholm, where he was working with visualization of art.
Lectorer in Fine Printmaking at Konstfack National College of Art Craft and Design Stockholm,
Member of the SDS/ Sami artist union,
2019 Tomas published his book “Faamoe” about his art and the south samie language.
Publisher: Gaalitje Sweden
OM KONSTNÄREN:
Tomas Colbengtson är född och uppvuxen i Björkvattnet, Tärnaby.
1998-2008 var han Resident Artist vid Kungliga Tekniska
Högskolan i Stockholm och numera arbetar han utöver sin
konstnärliga praktik även som adjunkt i grafik på Konstfack,
University College of Arts, Crafts and Design i Stockholm,
där han själv även har en masterexamen i måleri 1991.
Tomas har arbetat som konstnär i över 30 år och har haft
ett stort antal utställningar i Sverige och internationellt.
Tomas är representerad i Nya nationalmuseum Oslo,
Drottning Sonjas grafiksamling Norge, Statens konstråd,
Samiparlamentet Karasjok Norge m.m.
www.colbengtson.com
Om residenset “Sápmi salastá” för urfolkskonstnärer:
Samer är Sveriges urfolk
Urfolksrätten innebär rätt till:
Traditionella land och vatten
Eget språk
Egen religion
Rätten till självbestämmande i frågor som rör egna livssituationer.
Svenska staten har kränkt alla dessa rättigheter.
Språkförbudet att tala samiska i skolan fram till
60-talet resulterade att sydsamiskan nästan helt slutade talas.
Då språket är den främsta identitetsmarkören har den svenska
statens politik medfört att många samer slutat se sig själva som samer.
En förlorad identitet kan ge försämrad hälsa.
Språk och religionsförbud är koloniala mekanismer varhelst man tittar i världen.
Samiska området sträcker sig över de norra delarna av Norge, Sverige, Finland och Ryssland.
Det känns naturligt att leda blicken ytterligare runt i polcirkeln
reflekterande kring de historiska och kulturella likheter som binder samman dessa nordligaste liggande områden.
Tomas Colbengtson ”.
Sydsamisk Tärnadialekt:
Tomas Colbengtson Bearkoenvuemie, dearnesne lea reakadamme jah desnie sov maananbaelesne orreme.
Satne tjiehpiedäjjine 30 jaepieh vaaradamme jah sov tjeahpoeh daelie jeenebe saemienkultuvreste leah dissvielie gyhtjelassh lutnjie identideete, percepsjovne- jah aejkiejbijre.
“Mov lea nöörjen minngienamma mohte leab sveerjen veasoje jah mieleb goh nasjovnehts saemie.
Mov sjadtemisnie naavaenie soptsestieh religijovni, gielenihtoej skaamedehteme joejkemi jah gaeptiej bijre,
dihte jis eah gåessieh movhth lissieraajesh jah baakoehts maahtoeh fuelhkesne.
Tjabrehtimsjuhteme jah tjaetsiefaamoebigkeme jaepiej 1950-70
dulvemigujmie sjadti akte dejstie gellieh fiejlijst mah byjjesfaamoe dorjeme.
Gielenihteme skuvlesne raajan 1957 sjadti goh åarjelsaemien orrijin soptsestidh.
Mejtie mov saemiegielen namhtah sjadti ulmieb tjeahpoejgujmie barkedh” Tomas jeahta
Public collections:
British museum London
National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo, Norway
National Nordic Museum Seattle US
Swedish Arts Council
Norwegian Arts Council
Nordnorsk kunstmuseum, Tromsø, Norway
Akureyri Art Museum, Island
Wanås, Sweden
Uppsala konstmuseum, Sweden
Ájtte museum Jokkmokk Sweden
Norrbottens museum Sweden
RDM-Samiid Vuorka-Davvirat / RDM-De Samiske museum, Karasjok, Norway
Aejlies Saemiemuseum Tärnaby, Sweden
Örebro länsmuseum, Sweden
Sametinget, Norway
Eskilstuna konstmuseeum, Sweden
Drottning Sonjas grafiksamling Oslo, Norway
Svenska Institutet Paris
Museum Kloster Bentlage, Germany
Karolinska institute, Sweden
Helgeland museum, Norway
Aguelimuseet, Sala, Sweden
Nibutani Ainu Museum, Biratori-Cho, Japan
Ainu Cultural Center, Sapporo, Japan
Grafikens Hus
Stockholm stad
Göteborg stad
Landsting och kommuner i Sverige
Education:
Valand school of Fine Arts Gothenburg 1995-96
Master class in Electronic Arts Copenhagen 1996, David Rokeby
Konstfack National College of Art, Craft and Design MFA painting 1986-91
Art school Idun Loven Sculpture 1984-86
Public Art:
Public art Östresund Nya Kommunhus
Commissioned by Region Jämtland 2023
Public sculpture Sæemie Sijte Snåsa Soutsæemie museum Norway
Inaguration spring 2022
Commissioned by: Koro Stadsbygg Norway
2019 Public sculpture: “The dislocated – The recipiant” 100-memorial of disclocation of saemie in scandinavia Granö Sweden
Commissioned by : Sjugnaregården
2018 Public sculpture: “Tsïegle” Vejvisaren Pathfinder Satsfjäll,Saxnäs Sweden
Commissioned by : Konstvägen sju älvar, Region Västerbotten
2016 Public sculpture: “Neijta Gosse?” Ii Uleoborg Finland
Commissioned by : Ii art biennale Finland
2010 Glass print, Glasshouse Kulturhus, Umea, Sweden
1994 Västertorp public bath Stockholm, Sweden
Exhibitions 2023:
Swedens house New York
“Mygration” National Nordic museum Seattle
Swedish American museum Chicago
Nordens Hus Faeroe Island
Lumina gallery Oslo
Samisk Center Contemporary Art Karasjok Norway
Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno- Las Palmas Spain
NNKM Longyearby Svalbard
2022
1/2-1/3 Solo exhib Galleri Helle Stockholm
2/3-17/6 House of Sweden, Washington D.C.
11/3-8/9 Solo exhib Museum Cerny Bern Swiss
28/4-1/5 Market art, Galleri Helle, Liljevalchs, Stockholm
7/5-31/5 Galleria Napa, Rovaniemi, Finland
21/5 Indigenous panel Glass Art Soceity
Tacoma Seattle US
25/5-2/6 Workshop Pilchuck Seattle US
5/6-4/9 Idre kyrka, Dalarna, Sweden
17/6-30/8 Solo exhib Saemie Sijte Sydsamisk museum Snåsa Norway
13-17/7 Riddu Riddu festival Mandal Norway
1/9 Kl 18,00 Panelsamtal Ångdomen, KTH Stockholm
10/9-nov Yukon Arts Centre Whitehorse Canada
22/9 – 3/11 Solo SDG Karasjok Norway
12-13/10 Branschdagar för konst Östersund
6/10 – 26/2 -23 Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno- Las Palmas Spain
27/11- /02 2023 NNKM Longyearby Svalbard
9/12 – 3/3 -23 Solo exhib. National Nordic museum Seattle U.S
2024
Swedish American Museum Chicago U.S.
Sydsamisk museum Snåsa, Norge
PAST EXHIBITIONS:
2021:
“Overview effect” Museum of Contemporary Art, Belgrade
Solo exhib.MRK Molde Norway
Solo exhib. Kulturfabrikken Sortland Norway
Solo exhib. Ajttémuseum Jokkmokk Sweden
Avesta Art Sweden
Solo exhib. Ebelingmuseet Eskilstuna Sweden
”Whipe your Icecreame from your face” Arktikum Museum Rovaniemi Finland
Helgelandsmuseet Mosjen Norge
Nordlandsmuseet Bodø Norge
Uppsala konstmuseum Sweden
Sandviken konsthall Sweden
2020:
21/11-31/3 2020 Alta museum Norway
25/1-14/3 Grafiktriennal Galleri Sander Norrköping
2/2-1/3 Sturehof, Stockholm
7/2-29/2 Åmåls konsthall Sweden
4/4 -23/5 Grafiktriennal Trelleborgs Museum
17/6-30/7 Sijti Jarnge Sørsamsik senter Hattfjelldal Norway
29/8-1/11 Grafiktriennal Kulturens Hus Luleå
Helgelandmuseum Mosjøen Norway
Conventus Mo i Rana Norway
Conventus Oslo Norway
2019:
26/1-16/3 Matter at heart
Telemark kunstsenter Skien Norway
29/1 ÁIGEMÁTK, Edsvik konsthall Stockholm
5/3 Samiska veckan Umeå Sweden
14-16/3 FAAMOE Littfest, Idunteatern Umeå Sweden
20/3 kl 17-20 FAAMOE Bonniers konsthall Stockholm
24-25/5 “Indigenious Traces” exhibition
Kulturbryggan Granö Sweden
1-30/6 T.Colbengtson,
Linnea Axelsson, Anita Pongas, Skutskär Sweden
13/7-8/9 “Conventus”Sámi fineprintexhibition SDS Karasjok
29/9 -2020 Kakslauttanen gallery Finland
26/10-17/11 B. Marakatt Labba och T. Colbengtson
Galleri Lindberg Luleå Sweden
7/11 Katuaq Nuuk Greenland
https://katuaq.gl/da/
21/11/19 – 01/03/20 Alta museum Norway
12/12-8/1 Sápmi prints Norske Grafikere Oslo Norway
2018
Selected solo exhibitions:
2018
11/1-19/2 Taseralik, Sisimiut, Greenland
6/2 STAARE 2018, Sámi jubilee Östersund
12/4 Thorshavn, Färöarna
1-16/9 Skellefteå konsthall
1/5 Akureyri, Island
30/8-29/9 Skellefteå konsthall
24/10-2/12 Galleri Helle Knudsen Stockholm
9-30/11 Maerz Contemporary Molde, Norway
2017
4-6/12 Indigiounus exhibition, Sapporo, Japan
27/10-19/11 Áigemátki, Bodø
21/10 Bok & Bild Kulturens hus, Luleå
9/8-29/9 The Agnes Varis Art Center, New York
24-26/8 Klemetspelen Korgen, Norway
18/10 Lecture Konstfack Stockholm
15-22/7 Gallery Maerz Molde
1/4 – 30/5 Örebro länsmuseum
1/4 – 30/5 Galleri O Örebro
8/4 Bilda Skellefteå
3/5 Lecture Örebro länsmuseum
2016
6/2 Det grønlandske hus, Copenhagen
27/2 Galleri Helle Knudsen, Stockholm
28/6 Sapporo Citizen Gallery, Japan
2/7 Nibutani Ainu Cultural Museum, Hokkaido, Japan
1/11 Canaria Islands, Spain
2015
Maerz Contemporay Berlin, Germany
Gallery Urs von Unger Gstaad, Swiss
Nuuk kunstmuseum Greenland
Kunstmuseum Ilulisat Greenland
2014
Röros museum, Norway
Lilla Galleriet, Umeå
2013
Svenska Institutet, Paris, France
Gallery NP33 Norrköping, Sweden
Piteå Konsthall, Sweden.
2012
Norske Grafikere, Oslo, Norway.
Ricklundgården, Saxnäs, Sweden.
Galleri Konstforum, Norrköping, Sweden.
Galleri Thomassen, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Kiruna stadshus, Sweden.
2011
Ajtte Museum in Jokkmokk the Sami centre, Sweden.
Grafiska Sällskapet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Samisk Kunstnersenter SDS Karasjok, Norway.
2010
Grafikenshus Mariefred , Sweden
The Swedish Government, Stockholm, Sweden.
Samiska veckan, Lilla Galleriet Umeå, Sweden.
2009
Stockholm City planning office, Sweden.
2006
Lidingö Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden.
2005
SGI User Group Conference Munich, Germany.
2004
Gallery Artn, Chicago Art Instititute, Chicago, USA.
2001
Grafikenshus Mariefred, Sweden.
1995
Ö-vik konsthall, Örnsköldsvik, Sweden.
1994
Gallery Hana-saari, Helsinki, Finland.
Selected group exhibitions:
13-16/9 Galleri Sjögatan Sju Sundsvall
2017 Drottning Sonjas kunsthall, Norway
2017 “STAUP” Levanger, Trondheim, Norway
2017″Ságatfállasmat” Olavshallen, Trondheim, Norway
2017″Áigemákte” Leirfossveien 5E, Trondheim, Norway
2016 100 year Graphic art Gallery Tetem, Enschede, Netherlands
2016 Vevringutstillinga Norway
2016 Gaaltije, Saemie center, Östersund, Sweden
2016 Ájtte the saemi museum, Jokkmokk, Sweden
10/6 Art Biennale Ii, Finland
2016 Gallery Sigma, Växsjö, Sweden
2016 Urban glass studios, workshop, Brooklyn, N.Y. USA
2016 100 year Graphic art Gallery Tetem, Enschede, Netherlands
2015 Kunstmuseet Akureyi, Island
2015 Nordic ambassey, Berlin, Germany
2015 Positions Berlin, Art Fair, Germany
2015 Artist talk Position Berlin, Germany
2015 “Que vadis” Glassfactory Boda, Sweden
2015 Sami Contempoary, Kungsbacka Konsthall, Sweden
2015 Grafiktriennalen Uppsala konstmuseu, Sweden
2014 Agueli museet, Sala, Sweden
2014 Sami Contemporay, Norrbottens Museum Luleå, Sweden
2014 “Markanvändning”, Västerbottens museum, Umeå, Sweden
2014 New York Art Expo Pier 94 Manhattan, USA
2014 Rovaniemi Art Museum – Korundi Finland
2013 Greetings from Sapmi –Jamtli Östersund, Sweden
2013 South Karelen gallery Vilmastrand Finland
2013 Louvre, Paris, France
2013 “Markanvändning”, SDG, Karasjok, Norway
2013 Reflexioner, Lidköpings konsthall, Sweden
2013 Urfolkskonfrensen, Alta, Norway
2013 15 juni-29 juli “Reflexioner” Lidköping konsthall, Sweden
2013 “REFLEX”, Konsthallen, Luleå, Sweden
2013 “Markanvändning”,Norrbottens museum Luleå, Sweden
2013 “REFLEX”, Karasjok, Norway
2013 “Markanvändning”, Ajtte Museum in Jokkmokk the Sami centre, Sweden.
2012 “Moon lust” Augmented reality art exhibition. Chicago, USA
2012 “Out of the Box” Augmented reality art exhibition. San Francisco, USA
2011 The Baltic States Biennial of Graphic Arts. Kaliningrad, Russia.
2011 Norske grafiker, Oslo, Norway.
2009 PART5 Munsterland festival, Kulturhaus Bocholt, Germany.
2008 Grafikenshus Mariefred, Sweden
2006 University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA.
2003 Stockholm Art Fair Sollentuna, Sweden. Special invited exhibition
2001 NIC2001 Nordic Interaktive Copenhagen, Denmark.
2000 Millenniumexhibition Tekniska museeum Stockholm, Sweden.
1998 Kulture Capital exhibition Stockholm, Sweden.
1996 Nikolaj Church Gallery Copenhagen, Denmark.
1996 Göteborgs Konstmuseum, Sweden.
1996 Nikolaj Church Gallery Copenhagen, Denmark.
1996 Göteborgs Konstmuseum, Sweden.
1993 Grafiktrienalen Liljevalch, Stockholm, Sweden.
1993 Bildmuseeum Umeå, Sweden.
1991 Aguelimuseet Sala, Sweden.
1991 Konstnärshuset Stockholm, Sweden.
1991 Gallery Dr.Glas Stockholm, Sweden.
1990 Galleri Overgaden Copenhagen, Denmark.
1990 Galleri Eleptherias Athen Greece.
Public Art:
2010 Glass print, Glasshouse Kulturhus, Umea, Sweden
1994 Västertorp public bath Stockholm, Sweden