Kristoffer Zeiner (Norway, 1987), living and working in Amsterdam, has developed a painterly practice that navigates the intersections of materiality, world-building, and storytelling. His works balance figuration and abstraction, drawing on influences ranging from European folklore and Japanese gaming culture to the aesthetics of fantasy.
A defining element of Zeiner’s process is his use of self-mixed oil pigments, applied dry onto raw canvas. This technique results in richly textured surfaces that recall textiles, while simultaneously reinforcing the tactile presence of painting itself. Through this approach, Zeiner constructs spaces that oscillate between the recognizable and the unplaceable, echoing the ambiguous environments of myths and video games.
At the core of his practice lies a fascination with how objects, landscapes, and symbols function within fictional worlds. His paintings do not merely depict scenes but rather establish atmospheres that invite viewers to enter and explore. By opening up these imaginative terrains, Zeiner offers new ways of engaging with perception, narrative, and memory.
Zeiner’s work has been presented in solo and group exhibitions internationally, including at Galleri M. Simons, Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium, Galleri ISCA, Oude Kerk, and Arti et Amicitiae. In 2021 he was awarded the Mondriaan Fund’s Young Talent Stipendium, and he is currently preparing new projects that expand his exploration of both the conceptual and material possibilities of painting.
