Ragnhild Enge

Ragnhild Enge (b. 1948) is a Norwegian textile artist renowned for her contemporary tapestries that extend the gobelin tradition. Her works are distinguished by abstract motifs and a distinctive layer-on-layer effect, creating a sense of depth and dimensionality.

Education and Early Career

Enge studied at the Konstindustriskolan in Gothenburg from 1972 to 1976, establishing herself as a merited weaver through numerous exhibitions both domestically and internationally.

Artistic Practice

Utilizing fine wool yarn that she dyes herself, Enge weaves on a thin linen warp, constructing her images in layers. Her tapestries often feature traces of ornamentation, evoking curiosity through fragmented, familiar elements that enhance the three-dimensional effect.

Notable Works and Collaborations

In collaboration with painter Håkon Gullvåg, Enge wove the motifs for the distinctive bishop’s cope currently used in Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim.

Exhibitions and Collections

Enge’s works have been acquired by various public and private art collections, including Telenor, the City of Gothenburg, and the Public Art Agency Sweden. She has also completed several public art commissions throughout her career.

Recent Exhibitions

In 2022, Enge showcased new and older tapestries at Kunstbanken in Hamar, inspired by paintings such as Édouard Manet’s “The Luncheon on the Grass.” These works are characterized by their abstract motifs and layered effects.