Eliza Douglas
Press release
Nedre Slottsgate is a unit formerly occupied by Balenciaga at Promenaden: a luxury shopping district in Oslo’s historic city centre.
Since April, VI, VII has organized an experimental program of activity at this location, essentially repurposing the former store into a private showroom, and offering an intimate, behind the scenes view onto the typically concealed and now partially exposed underlying structure of the building it connects to: Steen & Strøm, Oslo’s oldest department store.
Behind this intentionally unmarked storefront lies a semi-secret exhibition of exceptional works by Eliza Douglas. Drawn from her first AI-inspired body of work, each oil painting is wrapped in an oversized three-dimensional fabric bow – real bows (not painted on!) some of which have been made by Balenciaga’s couture studio, at the artist’s request, and others handmade by Berlin based designer Don Aretino.
The paintings rest over site-specific installation by Ingrid Bredholt, a Norwegian artist and designer behind the concept store, Sorgenfri. Bredholt was inspired to use large sheets of black plastic to enhance the raw and unpolished “luxury brand has left the building” aspects of the space, dressing the architecture in a material normally used kill plant life, and inhibit weeds.
Invisible from street view, the lower level features an intimate series of watercolour portraits by Douglas, of friends, individuals from the pages of magazines, and at least one historical figure, a rare chance to see a medium lesser used by the artist.
The exhibition can be visited until September 12th. Please note that the project space has no opening hours and access requires pre-notification, therefore we warmly welcome you to visit by appointment.
To schedule a visit please contact the gallery at office@vivii.no / +47 902 79 862.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Eliza Douglas was born in the United States in 1984 and studied at Bard College and the Städelschule in Frankfurt.
Recent exhibitions include “In First Person Plural” curated by Luca lo Pinto, MACRO, Rome; “Natures mortes,” Palais de Tokyo, Paris; “Notre Morte,” Neue Alte Brücke, Frankfurt; “Lord of the Fucking Wasteland,” Air de Paris, Romainville; “Sex,” Tate Modern, London (with Anne Imhof); “Sex,” Castello di Rivoli; “Old Tissues Filled with Tears,” Schinkel Pavilion, Berlin, and Eliza Douglas Anne Imhof, Galerie Buchholz, New York.
For several years, Douglas has collaborated closely with German artist Anne Imhof as a performer, composer and musician—most recently on “DOOM” at the Park Avenue Armory, which The New York Times writer Jason Farago has called “the most anticipated performace of the winter season (2024-2025).” Douglas and Imhof have also collaborated on the exhibition “Natures mortes” at Palais de Tokyo, Paris; Anne Imhof’s “YOUTH” at the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam and Anne Imhof’s “Faust,” which won the Golden Lion at the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017.
Eliza Douglas’ works are in notable collections including that of Christen Sveaas and Kistefos Museum in Jenvaker, Norway, as well as other prestigious private collections including that of New York based art collectors Jill and Peter Kraus, and Sarah Andelman of Colette.
Throughout her time as a model, Douglas has worked with designers including Helmut Lang and Vetements. For the past nine years she has works exceedingly closely with Balenciaga.
Douglas’ interest in collaboration and performance also extends to music. In the 2000s she partnered musically with Devendra Banhart, Antony and the Johnsons, and Matteah Baim.
The artist lives and works in New York.
THANK YOU
Annette Lund, David Wilkinson, Tine Slaatten, Kaia Kongsli and the entire team at Promenaden and Steen & Strøm including Lolita Suvcane and Margrethe Nyvang Tandberg. We also thank Balenciaga, Don Aretino, Louise Hessling, Florence Bonnefous, Victor Nicolai, Ethan Floro, Christian Tunge, Léo Pflimlin, our friends at Porsche, Olga Stausberg, Mina Krafft, Rebecca Wingquist and Maria Aasen of Patriksson Group.
We also extend sincere thanks to our sponsors: Elyssia and Empress.
Eliza Douglas at Nedre Slottsgate 8
Eliza Douglas at Nedre Slottsgate 8
Eliza Douglas at Nedre Slottsgate 8
Eliza Douglas at Nedre Slottsgate 8
Eliza Douglas, Crystal Splash, 2024
Mixed media on canvas
170 × 170 × 23 cm (66 ⅞ × 66 ⅞ × 9 inches) (66 ⅞ × 66 ⅞ × 9 inches)
Mixed media on canvas
170 × 170 × 23 cm (66 ⅞ × 66 ⅞ × 9 inches) (66 ⅞ × 66 ⅞ × 9 inches)
Eliza Douglas, Crystal Splash, 2024
Mixed media on canvas
170 × 170 × 23 cm (66 ⅞ × 66 ⅞ × 9 inches)
Mixed media on canvas
170 × 170 × 23 cm (66 ⅞ × 66 ⅞ × 9 inches)
Eliza Douglas at Nedre Slottsgate 8
Eliza Douglas at Nedre Slottsgate 8
Eliza Douglas, Bubble Gum Time, 2024
Mixed media on canvas
110 × 110 × 16 cm (43 ¼ × 43 ¼ × 6 ¼ inches)
Mixed media on canvas
110 × 110 × 16 cm (43 ¼ × 43 ¼ × 6 ¼ inches)
Eliza Douglas at Nedre Slottsgate 8
Eliza Douglas at Nedre Slottsgate 8
Eliza Douglas, Blossoms & Blossoms, 2024
Mixed media on canvas
210 × 170 × 28 cm (82 ⅝ × 66 ⅞ × 11 inches)
Mixed media on canvas
210 × 170 × 28 cm (82 ⅝ × 66 ⅞ × 11 inches)
Eliza Douglas at Nedre Slottsgate 8
Eliza Douglas at Nedre Slottsgate 8
Eliza Douglas, Cotton Candy Drip, 2024
Mixed media on canvas
110 × 110 × 16 cm (43 ¼ × 43 ¼ × 6 ¼ inches) (43 ¼ × 43 ¼ × 6 ¼ inches)
Mixed media on canvas
110 × 110 × 16 cm (43 ¼ × 43 ¼ × 6 ¼ inches) (43 ¼ × 43 ¼ × 6 ¼ inches)
Eliza Douglas, Cotton Candy Drip, 2024
Mixed media on canvas
110 × 110 × 16 cm (43 ¼ × 43 ¼ × 6 ¼ inches)
Mixed media on canvas
110 × 110 × 16 cm (43 ¼ × 43 ¼ × 6 ¼ inches)
Eliza Douglas at Nedre Slottsgate 8
Eliza Douglas, Two-Chambered Heart, 2024
Mixed media on canvas
250 × 150 × 32 cm (98 ⅜ × 59 × 12 ⅝ inches)
Mixed media on canvas
250 × 150 × 32 cm (98 ⅜ × 59 × 12 ⅝ inches)
