Index
- 1. Architecture (To be changed/updated)
- 1.1 Outdoors/Participatory (Locked)
- 2. Photography (To be changed/updated)
- 3. Fine Arts:
- 3.1 Exhibitions / Installations (To be changed/updated)
- 3.2 Happenings / Performance (Locked)
- 3.4 Biomaterial and Textile Works (Under construction)
- 3.5 Paintings / Sketches (Locked)
- Facilitation (Locked)
- Research (Locked)
Texts
- Writings (To be updated)
- Publicity
- Exhibition Texts (To be updated)
Maria Helena K. Nerhus is a Finnish-Norwegian architect, visual artist and curator based between Bergen, Norway and Berlin, Germany.
Throughout the summer of 2026, Maria Helena K. Nerhus is guiding architectural walks in English in collaboration with Café Tiergarten and GROTTO, an independent space for contemporary art and culture located in a former stamp shop within the shopping arcade of Berlin's Hansaviertel.
Programming Yellow Salon, hosted at Café Tiergarten.
In 2022, Nerhus co-founded Emne Studio, a platform for co-creation aimed at supporting emerging artists.
Read about:
Emne Studio
GROTTO
Yellow Salon
CV
Full resume on request
Spatial and artsitic practices (short lists)
2026, Mediation- Guided walks(EN) trough Hansaviertel with Grotto and Cafè Tiergarten
2025, Conncept Binnale, Berlin, DE, Project support/assistant for artistic and curatorial director Tina Roeder, Berlin
2025, Gallery Manager, GROTTO, Berlin
2022 Co-founder EMNE Studio Forening with Camilla Louadah and Verda Lunde
2020 - 2021 Partner and co-funder Studio Hug AS with Åsmund Hårklau og Eva Bull (now Attom Arkitektar As)
2022-2003, Architect/producer on the participatory art project ‘Kitchen Garden with female persones in Departmen D, Bergen Prison. An art project by Stacy Brafield, Festspillkollektivet and & Bergen Kunsthall.
Current projects
Research
2023 - Temporary Beings is an ongoing series exploring the lifespan of biomaterial as a living archive, where matter, memory, and decay coexist.
Selected exhibitions
Solo
2026, O, Northing Space, Bergen (NO)
2024, ’Besenstiel aus dem Schloss’ with Jing Yu, Kiezkiosk Open Tiny, Berlin (DE)
2023, ‘Zion’, With Ewa Lorenc, Project room Isotop, Bergen (NO)
2023, ‘Lovers, with Brita Grov, Projektraum Galerie M, Berlin (DE)
2022, Mystrey X - Learning task 1, Tag Team studio, Bergen (NO)
2022, Kutta av, Project room Isotop, Bergen (NO)
Group
2025, Field Nodes, Hošek Contemporary, with Vivien Hoffmann and Madelen Isa
2025, Korleis fangar eg støvet i lufta? Banken i Ølve, Kvinnherad (NO)
Lindgren, in colaboration with Manuel Schubbe and Imeon, Berlin (DE)
2024, Decolonizing your mind, SAWA, Karanfil Café Bar,
Weisestr. 3, Schillerkiez, Berlin-Neukölln (DE)
2024, The Material Way Pavillion, 3Daysofdesign,
Øens Have, Refshalevej 159B, 1432 Copenhagen (DE)
2023, Young and Loving, Mystery X, Installation, Galleri s12, Bergen ( NO)
2021, Obsolete Solar System, Galleri Memphis, Oslo (NO)
2021, Hex Pluss, Galleri N. Bergslien, Eidfjord (NO)
Curation/Programming
2026, Hand og Oske, Exhibthion, Risketensvillaen, Bergen, NO
2025, Yellow Salon, Cafè Tiergarten
2025, Condition Raports, a series on art concervation, GROTTO (DE)
2023, Sporveiskiosken by Emne studio
2021, House of Angels by Leatitia, Ny Kirken, Bergen
2019, ”Hvor er du??!”, Let`s vodka, Østre, Bergen (as a part of Mørkerommet forokollektiv)
Selected publications
2025, Under the Skin #1 Katarina Shilling
2025, Under the Skin #2 Liz Craft
2022, Skam, skuld og fordømming, Arkitektnytt
2021, Sjå Magazine #3
2020, Sjå Magazine #2
2020, Sjå Magazine #1
2020 BT Debatt: on the struggle for children to use the Norwegian minority written ‘Nynorsk’ in school.
2017 Changemakers Magazine: on the work of DAAR Decolonizing Architecture.
Teaching experience
2026, Make your own ligth sculpture, Northing Space, Bergen
2024, Texturen bioplastic with Jay Lee at GlogurAir, Berlin
2023 Maike Statz invited Emne studio to host the workshop ‘a place for actions’ at HKS, Bergen
- Emne Studio
2022 3 days photography workshop: human in nature, at NKD Nordisk art Center Dale
- Emne Studio
2022 3 events: Barnas Kulturhus, ‘The Theatre in photography’ for children 3-5 years, Bergen
- Enk. Foretak
2022 Bergen Prison, Architectural drawing with artist Stacy Bradfield for Kitchen Garden
- Enk. Foretak
2020-2021: Hosting regular photography meetings
- Mørkerommet Fotokollektiv
2021 Painting mural with Førde Primary school
- In relation to the participatory project Meieriplassen.
- Studio HUG
2021 Colourful concrete cast workshop at Hafstad High, KDA
- In relation to the participatory project Meieriplassen.
- Studio HUG
2021, Casting colour concrete workshop with art and design pupils at Hasfad VGS, KDA.
- In relation to the participatory project Meieriplassen.
- Studio HUG
2018, Teacher Assistant at Hong Kong Design Institute
- Architecture
AiR Recidencies
01.09-30.09.23 - Centro Studi Italo-Norvegese a Tolfa, IT
08.01-19.02.23 Hardanger Kunstlag residency with dance artist Brita Grov in Berlin, DE
16.06-01.09.22 Kiosken Studio take over Emne Studio, NO
12.03 – 20.03.22 Bergen Centre for Electronic Arts, NO
Workshops (selected)
2023 The Listening Academy by Brandon LeBelle, Tiago, Berlin, DE
2023 Performance LAB: empty hand river by Roza Moshtaghi and Ronak Moshtaghi, DE
2022 Hordaland Kunstsenter Summer Academy with Siv Støldal and Renata Cervetto, NO
2021 EKKO XVIII : Trashkestra with Jimi Tenor, Tatu Rönkkö, Islaja og Rudi Valdersnes, Bergen Kjøtt, NO
2021 How can we Make Narratives More Plural? AGORA / Plurality University Network(digital)
2021 Mass Housing and Climate Change, international workshop and conference, Strelka KB (digital)
2019 Dancing Architect workshop with architect Takako Hasegawa and dancer Julie Anne Stanzak, Ostuni, IT,
2019 Enough: Oslo Architecture Triennale, on preservation and heritage in the city centre of Oslo
2018 Political as art, BAK summer school, Utrecht, NL
2018 Bergen Exchanges, CMI centre on Law and Social transformation
Grants and funding
2023 Municipality of Bergen, Cross-disciplinarity project
2023, 2022 The Norwegian art council, ‘Diversestipend’
2022 Municipality of Bergen, Elektronisk kunst, Project support
2022 The Norwegian art council, 1 year work grant, emerging artists
2021 Municipality of Bergen, Event support
Education
2014 - 2020, Bergen School of Architecture, Bergen, NO
2018, Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem, IL/PS
2017, Ryerson University, Toronto, CA
2013, The University of Bergen, Bergen, NO
- Art theory, art and architecture history from 1900 to today,
introduction to western philosophy and aesthetics.
2012- 2013, Kunstskolen i Bergen
2011 - 2012, Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School
Clients I have worked with as architect: Kode, Kirkens Bymisjon, Bergen Kunsthallen/Soso Brafield/Festpill kollektivet, Sunnford Kommune, Myrkdalen Fjellhotell, Finnegården, Pamelia Kunstfestival, og KODE.
As a cultural worker I have worked for BIT Theater Garasjen, EKKO Festivalen/ Østre, Bergen Assembly, Tarek Atui, Council, Festspillene i Bergen, Universitetet i Bergen, and Bergen Arkitekt skole.
Membership
Nal, NBF, VISP, BONO, Collective Oslo, Atelir
Past
2021 – 2022 Fotoverkstedet Isotop
2015-2022 A-fag
Throughout the summer of 2026, Maria Helena K. Nerhus is guiding architectural walks in English in collaboration with Café Tiergarten and GROTTO, an independent space for contemporary art and culture located in a former stamp shop within the shopping arcade of Berlin's Hansaviertel.
Programming Yellow Salon, hosted at Café Tiergarten.
In 2022, Nerhus co-founded Emne Studio, a platform for co-creation aimed at supporting emerging artists.
Read about:
Emne Studio
GROTTO
Yellow Salon
CV
Full resume on request
Spatial and artsitic practices (short lists)
2026, Mediation- Guided walks(EN) trough Hansaviertel with Grotto and Cafè Tiergarten
2025, Conncept Binnale, Berlin, DE, Project support/assistant for artistic and curatorial director Tina Roeder, Berlin
2025, Gallery Manager, GROTTO, Berlin
2022 Co-founder EMNE Studio Forening with Camilla Louadah and Verda Lunde
2020 - 2021 Partner and co-funder Studio Hug AS with Åsmund Hårklau og Eva Bull (now Attom Arkitektar As)
2022-2003, Architect/producer on the participatory art project ‘Kitchen Garden with female persones in Departmen D, Bergen Prison. An art project by Stacy Brafield, Festspillkollektivet and & Bergen Kunsthall.
Current projects
Research
2023 - Temporary Beings is an ongoing series exploring the lifespan of biomaterial as a living archive, where matter, memory, and decay coexist.
Selected exhibitions
Solo
2026, O, Northing Space, Bergen (NO)
2024, ’Besenstiel aus dem Schloss’ with Jing Yu, Kiezkiosk Open Tiny, Berlin (DE)
2023, ‘Zion’, With Ewa Lorenc, Project room Isotop, Bergen (NO)
2023, ‘Lovers, with Brita Grov, Projektraum Galerie M, Berlin (DE)
2022, Mystrey X - Learning task 1, Tag Team studio, Bergen (NO)
2022, Kutta av, Project room Isotop, Bergen (NO)
Group
2025, Field Nodes, Hošek Contemporary, with Vivien Hoffmann and Madelen Isa
2025, Korleis fangar eg støvet i lufta? Banken i Ølve, Kvinnherad (NO)
Lindgren, in colaboration with Manuel Schubbe and Imeon, Berlin (DE)
2024, Decolonizing your mind, SAWA, Karanfil Café Bar,
Weisestr. 3, Schillerkiez, Berlin-Neukölln (DE)
2024, The Material Way Pavillion, 3Daysofdesign,
Øens Have, Refshalevej 159B, 1432 Copenhagen (DE)
2023, Young and Loving, Mystery X, Installation, Galleri s12, Bergen ( NO)
2021, Obsolete Solar System, Galleri Memphis, Oslo (NO)
2021, Hex Pluss, Galleri N. Bergslien, Eidfjord (NO)
Curation/Programming
2026, Hand og Oske, Exhibthion, Risketensvillaen, Bergen, NO
2025, Yellow Salon, Cafè Tiergarten
2025, Condition Raports, a series on art concervation, GROTTO (DE)
2023, Sporveiskiosken by Emne studio
2021, House of Angels by Leatitia, Ny Kirken, Bergen
2019, ”Hvor er du??!”, Let`s vodka, Østre, Bergen (as a part of Mørkerommet forokollektiv)
Selected publications
2025, Under the Skin #1 Katarina Shilling
2025, Under the Skin #2 Liz Craft
2022, Skam, skuld og fordømming, Arkitektnytt
2021, Sjå Magazine #3
2020, Sjå Magazine #2
2020, Sjå Magazine #1
2020 BT Debatt: on the struggle for children to use the Norwegian minority written ‘Nynorsk’ in school.
2017 Changemakers Magazine: on the work of DAAR Decolonizing Architecture.
Teaching experience
2026, Make your own ligth sculpture, Northing Space, Bergen
2024, Texturen bioplastic with Jay Lee at GlogurAir, Berlin
2023 Maike Statz invited Emne studio to host the workshop ‘a place for actions’ at HKS, Bergen
- Emne Studio
2022 3 days photography workshop: human in nature, at NKD Nordisk art Center Dale
- Emne Studio
2022 3 events: Barnas Kulturhus, ‘The Theatre in photography’ for children 3-5 years, Bergen
- Enk. Foretak
2022 Bergen Prison, Architectural drawing with artist Stacy Bradfield for Kitchen Garden
- Enk. Foretak
2020-2021: Hosting regular photography meetings
- Mørkerommet Fotokollektiv
2021 Painting mural with Førde Primary school
- In relation to the participatory project Meieriplassen.
- Studio HUG
2021 Colourful concrete cast workshop at Hafstad High, KDA
- In relation to the participatory project Meieriplassen.
- Studio HUG
2021, Casting colour concrete workshop with art and design pupils at Hasfad VGS, KDA.
- In relation to the participatory project Meieriplassen.
- Studio HUG
2018, Teacher Assistant at Hong Kong Design Institute
- Architecture
AiR Recidencies
01.09-30.09.23 - Centro Studi Italo-Norvegese a Tolfa, IT
08.01-19.02.23 Hardanger Kunstlag residency with dance artist Brita Grov in Berlin, DE
16.06-01.09.22 Kiosken Studio take over Emne Studio, NO
12.03 – 20.03.22 Bergen Centre for Electronic Arts, NO
Workshops (selected)
2023 The Listening Academy by Brandon LeBelle, Tiago, Berlin, DE
2023 Performance LAB: empty hand river by Roza Moshtaghi and Ronak Moshtaghi, DE
2022 Hordaland Kunstsenter Summer Academy with Siv Støldal and Renata Cervetto, NO
2021 EKKO XVIII : Trashkestra with Jimi Tenor, Tatu Rönkkö, Islaja og Rudi Valdersnes, Bergen Kjøtt, NO
2021 How can we Make Narratives More Plural? AGORA / Plurality University Network(digital)
2021 Mass Housing and Climate Change, international workshop and conference, Strelka KB (digital)
2019 Dancing Architect workshop with architect Takako Hasegawa and dancer Julie Anne Stanzak, Ostuni, IT,
2019 Enough: Oslo Architecture Triennale, on preservation and heritage in the city centre of Oslo
2018 Political as art, BAK summer school, Utrecht, NL
2018 Bergen Exchanges, CMI centre on Law and Social transformation
Grants and funding
2023 Municipality of Bergen, Cross-disciplinarity project
2023, 2022 The Norwegian art council, ‘Diversestipend’
2022 Municipality of Bergen, Elektronisk kunst, Project support
2022 The Norwegian art council, 1 year work grant, emerging artists
2021 Municipality of Bergen, Event support
Education
2014 - 2020, Bergen School of Architecture, Bergen, NO
2018, Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem, IL/PS
2017, Ryerson University, Toronto, CA
2013, The University of Bergen, Bergen, NO
- Art theory, art and architecture history from 1900 to today,
introduction to western philosophy and aesthetics.
2012- 2013, Kunstskolen i Bergen
2011 - 2012, Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School
Clients I have worked with as architect: Kode, Kirkens Bymisjon, Bergen Kunsthallen/Soso Brafield/Festpill kollektivet, Sunnford Kommune, Myrkdalen Fjellhotell, Finnegården, Pamelia Kunstfestival, og KODE.
As a cultural worker I have worked for BIT Theater Garasjen, EKKO Festivalen/ Østre, Bergen Assembly, Tarek Atui, Council, Festspillene i Bergen, Universitetet i Bergen, and Bergen Arkitekt skole.
Membership
Nal, NBF, VISP, BONO, Collective Oslo, Atelir
Past
2021 – 2022 Fotoverkstedet Isotop
2015-2022 A-fag
Portrait by Ada Miko, 2021