"Sørover" will stay in Stavanger

One of textile artist Frida Hansen’s major works, the tapestry “Sørover” (“Southward”), has been on display at Stavanger Art Museum since early summer. Extensive efforts have been made to secure funding to purchase this unique tapestry and thereby avoid its return to the United States for sale on the private market.

It is with great pleasure that the Department Director at Stavanger Art Museum, Hanne Beate Ueland, can now announce that “Sørover” will remain in Stavanger.

“We are very, very happy with this solution,” she says.

On display in Stavanger the next fire years

Christen Sveaas’ Art Foundation has purchased the tapestry.

For the next five years, it will be exhibited at Stavanger Art Museum.

After that, the foundation may choose to display the tapestry elsewhere, but it could return to the Art Museum at a later date, as part of the intention for continued collaboration between Stavanger Art Museum and the Art Foundation.

Was consideres lost

William Flatmo, Director of Christen Sveaas’ Art Foundation, considers “Sørover” a distinctive work: “A fantastic tapestry with an absolutely incredible composition,” he says.

“Sørover” has a very special history. Frida Hansen wove it in 1903.

It was purchased by one of her students, Berthea Aske-Bergh, in the United States.

For many decades, the tapestry was considered lost before it turned up in a shipping container.

The rug dealer Peter Pap took possession of the tapestry and was tasked with selling it on behalf of the owners.

It is now confirmed that “Sørover” will remain in Norway and will be available to the public at Stavanger Art Museum in the years to come.