Henrik Aarrestad Uldalen

Henrik Aarrestad Uldalen (born 1986 in South Korea, but raised in Asker Norway) is a Norwegian oil painter. Uldalen is a self-taught artist whose work includes classic figurative painting. He paints people in oils and then pieces these images in impossible scenes such as climbing upside down spiral staircases, or falling from tilted buildings. His work has been described as photosurrealism.

Although he uses a various range of models in his work, he states that they are all representations of himself and his state of mind. When he sets up the painting he tries to get the model to evoke the same emotions that he is going through at the moment. His works serve as a diary that records his different states of being from different moments in time.

Paintguide

Uldalen and co-founders set-up Paintguide in January 2014. The project started as a forum for artists from all over the world to share their favourite artworks and inspirations to the public, the project took form as a website, and Instagram. Following a highly successful takeover of the Paintguide account by Alex Kanevsky, Uldalen found himself inundated with requests for Paintguide takeovers from other like-minded, social media savvy artists. Contributed by over 60 artists and painters, the Paintguide’s following grew exponentially, and currently stands over 329,000 followers.

In November 2015, the Paintguide project took form as a pop-up exhibition at Unit London gallery. Showing over 60 artists from their Paintguide Instagram account, such as Jeremy Geddes, Jeremy Mann, Martin Wittfooth, Greg “Craola” Simkins and Dan Quintana. Alongside the exhibition being set up, Uldalen set-up a Kickstarter campaign for the Paintguide book, showcasing the 60 first artists who took over the Instagram page, displaying 5 of their favourite artworks. It was successfully funded on 28 November.

Exhibitions

Solo exhibitions

2021 JD Malat Gallery. "Love in Exile". London, UK 2018 JD Malat Gallery. London, UK 2014 Thinkspace. Los Angeles, USA 2011 Galerie Contour. Skagen, Denmark 2010 Galleri Ramfjord. Oslo, Norway 2009 Galleri Ramfjord. Oslo, Norway

Group exhibitions

2021 Spring Gardens Flats. “NuArt Aberdeen”. Aberdeen, Scotland 2015 Friends Of Leon Gallery. “Les Petit Fours”. Sydney, AU 2015 Gallery 1261. “Unfurl”. Denver, USA 2015 Inner State Gallery. “LAX/DTW”. Detroit, USA 2015 Galleri Ramfjord. “Scope Art Show”. New York, USA 2015 LA Municipal Art Gallery. “20 Years Under The Influence of Juxtapoz”. Los Angeles, USA 2015 Modern Eden. “Platinum Blend”. San Francisco, USA 2015 Hashimoto Contemporary. “The Moleskine Project 4”. San Francisco, USA 2014 Arcadia Contemporary. “Scope Art Fair”. New York, USA 2014 Thinkspace. “LA Art Show”. Los Angeles, USA 2014 Arcadia Contemporary. “LA Art Show”. Los Angeles, USA 2014 Arcadia Contemporary. New York, USA 2014 Thinkspace. Los Angeles, USA 2013 Corey Helford Gallery. “Art Collector Starter Kit”. Los Angeles, USA 2013 Gallery 1261. “Contemporary Realism”. Denver, USA 2013 Thinkspace. Los Angeles, USA 2012 Galleri Ramfjord. Oslo, Norway 2012 NOo Sphere Arts. “Beautiful Maladies”. New York, USA 2012 Spoke Art. San Francisco, USA 2012 J. LeVine Gallery. “Art Basel”, Switzerland 2012 Thinkspace. Los Angeles, USA 2012 Stricoff Fine Art. New York, USA 2011 Galleri Ramfjord. Oslo, Norway 2011 S Cube Gallery. Los Angeles, USA 2011 .NO New York. New York, USA 2011 Galleri V58. “Magic Realism”. Århus, Denmark 2010 Galerie Contour. Skagen, Denmark 2010 Galleri Ramfjord. Oslo, Norway