Trude Viken Norwegian, b. 1969

Viken was born in 1969 in Lødingen. Growing up in a nautical town, she spent her early days committed to the pursuit of art, however, this path was altered in her teenage years by societal pressures and her parents’ wish for her to establish a stable life and career in healthcare. Instead of focusing on her art, Viken took up work as a nurse’s aide, a profession that permeates her paintings to this day—through cross symbolism, references to healthcare uniforms, and a dedication to portraying the interior lives and roles of women. Viken describes the years of her adult life as swift and blurry; years passing by too fast as she got married, started a family, and lived out the domestic life that was hoped for her. 
However, throughout this time, Viken continued to create art in private. In her late forties, she applied to the Oslo National Academy of the Arts, but was denied admission. Despite the many setbacks and obstacles, around 2010 Viken began to dedicate herself fully to her work and eventually decided to post her paintings on Instagram—where she was ultimately discovered. Viken’s breakthrough in the art world came in 2018, and her artistic journey since has been nothing short of relentless. Over the past six years, her work has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions.