About

Artist • poet • designer • author • associate professor • contralto • backcountry skier • observer • thinker • listener • mother • teacher • student • speaker • photographer • international citizen • multidisciplinary enthusiast • researcher • seeker of quiet

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio (USA), Martha has lived in Norway for almost 30 years. Skogen means 'forest', and with her family, the forests of the world are her true home. Martha is an avid off-piste downhill skier and she enjoys doing many other types of outdoor activities. She loves walking in natural, hard-to-reach areas.

She taught at university level for many years, earning her PhD in 2017.

Martha embraces a ‘leave-no-trace’ and ‘no-harm’ policy in all aspects of her work. All pieces are handmade in Norway with care and respect. 

Location

Grotli Fjellstue
5235 Skjåkvegen
N-2695 Grotli
NORWAY

Martha also lives and works in Trondheim, Norway.

Exhibitions & Exposure

—2025—

January:
Invitation to contribute five poems & illustrations to an anthology by PoesiKafé, Trondheim.

—2024—

December:
Jul på spikern: Painting Exhibition
Exhibition room of 15 paintings, along with three other painters and one photographer at Atelier Ilsvika, an artistic cooperative.

November:
Are We Talking?
An article in the local city paper that addresses the current political climate (Norwegian only):
https://www.adressa.no/debatt/i/9381JW/snakker-vi-sammen

-85-
A powerful poem for the juried “All About My Mother” series:
https://silverbirchpress.wordpress.com/2024/11/03/85-by-martha-skogen-all-about-my-mother-series/

October:
NTNU Plasdagene 2024
International conference on marine pollution.
I presented GYGA and the process(es) behind her concept and creation. This was a two-day conference organised by NTNU Oceans.

Skjåk Høstfest
Workshop and art-making sessions with children. This is a recurring local, specialty-focused autumn festival held by Skjåk Municipality, Norway.

September:
GYGA
Outdoor, public sculpture commissioned by Trondheim Municipality, Norway. I constructed this three-meter outdoor sculpture with trash & pollution that was collected by volunteers from the ocean and river Nidelva. GYGA is a Norrønsk mythological sea monster who has risen from the depths to reveal our consumerism. She will stand in the public space near Dokkhuset until Autumn 2025.

The sculpture was launched as “Avduking av søppelskulpturen GYGA” during the annual event Kulturnatt, 2024. This exciting event highlights cultural aspects around the city.

The sculpture’s introductory speech was held by Line Fjørstad, a Norwegian politician from the Green Party (MDG), in the Trondheim city administration. Since June 2024, she has been the city councilor for the environment, transport, and business in Trondheim. She was joined by leaders from the Trondheim Municipality’s Climate and Environment Unit (Klima- og miljøenhet) whose teamwork led and inspired me throughout this project. Learn more about GYGA here (Norwegian only): https://wataha.no/no/2024/09/19/gyga-er-et-klebrig-skuespill-fra-bunnen-av-Nidelva%2C-et-havmonster-fra-nordisk-tid/

”someOne”
A poem published by the Journal of Medical Humanities:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10912-024-09894-6

July:
Facing Goodbye—A Poetry Anthology
The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press
I was invited to submit multiple poems in this international anthology about this eternal, powerful topic.
https://www.amazon.com/Facing-Goodbye-Sparrow-Poetry-Press/dp/8409625369

June 1 - August 25:
Sjø, Meer, Sea, Mare, Hâi, Samudr
Galleri Hans, Ørland Cultural Center
Shared, multidiscliplinary exhibition with marine theme. My contributions included ceramics, stained glass sculpture, and poetry.
Collaborator:
Nina Gjølgasæther, Leader for Galleri Hans

March:
Martha joined Atelier Ilsvika, a juried, creative cooperative in Trondheim, Norway.

—2023—

Ocean Exploration—Aftermath of Humanity
Interdisciplinary, themed presentation of ocean trash. My contributions included ceramics, stained glass, & poetry. This project-based interdisciplinary exhibition is created and made by GALLERI 7, and is an ongoing, ever-evolving exhibition with various artists in various disciplines. GALLERI 7 presented this exhibition at The Coastal Museum of South Trøndelag, Hitra, and Lager11, Trondheim. All locations are in Norway.

This project based interdisciplinary exhibition was created and made by GALLERI 7. This is an ongoing exhibition for which GALLERI 7 still owns the rights.
Project Leader: Tania Winther
Creative Leader: Mariel Mikalsen

Maker Faire: Exhibition & Workshop
Large exhibition with continuous art-making workshops for children and caretakers. Shared with Mikael Maliks’ drawings. Maker Faire is an international creative festival that was arranged locally by Trondheim Municipality.

—2022—

The Glass Tree
Poems for All Ages, Artwork by Children
Debut of my first book of poems, illustrated by children from the Trondheim International School (ThIS). The Foreword, written by award-winning US poet Jon Davis calls the work a “book of wonders”.
Please contact Martha for copies

´Høstutstilling´, Grotli Høyfjellshotell, Grotli Norway. Multidisciplinary exhibition of ceramics with TIME series, poetry, painting and raku. This was a shared exhibition with two artists: a painter and a photographer. Grotli Høyfjellshotel is located at a beautiful, mountainous crossroad deep in the heart of Norway.

Need inspiring illustrations for your poems? Why not ask children?
The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) reached out to me to highlight my project in Reverse Ekphrasis with children. This project allowed me access to IB students from grades 1-9 where I read poems to each class and the students illustrated them. Their beautiful, conceptual, and astonishing visual work became part of the book The Glass Tree.
Read the blog post here

—2022-current—

“Flowetry” workshop has been conducted with:

• International Day of Mother Languages, by the Literature House (Litteraturhus)
• Ila School in Trondheim (Ilaskolen)
• Diversity House (Mangfoldhuset)
• Trondheim International School (ThIS)
• Skjåk høstfest
• University of Houston’s McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics

I continue to lead this creatively empowering workshop that includes cultural exchange through poetry, illustration, reading and community bridge-building.

It works well with anyone, from kindergartners to world-renowned physicians and medical practitioners. Contact Martha for collaboration with “Flowetry”

—2021-2023—

TIME
Ceramics
Exhibition at GALLERI 7, Trondheim Norway

—2019-current —

TIME (ongoing)
Ceramics, paintings, poetry
This is a juried, seasonal, regular, shared exhibition with about 20 artists at Bøstugu galleri, Bismo Norway

NB. This work was sold in exclusive boutiques in Trondheim Norway:
• Husfliden (Trondheim)
• Nidarosdomen boutique (Trondheim)
• Maihaugen (Lillehammer)

Education

 
PhD: Norwegian University of Science & Technology, NTNU (2017). Trondheim, Norway     

Title: Do You See What I See? Investigations into the Underlying Parameters of Visual Simplicity
Dissertation:
https://ntnuopen.ntnu.no/ntnu-xmlui/handle/11250/2449003

Master of Design: University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Architecture, Art & Planning, DAAP (1996). Cincinnati, Ohio USA

Intensive Design: Yale University School of Art. 1. Design Foundations (1993). 2. Graphic Design Summer Program (1994). Brissago, Switzerland

Intensive Art and Design: Maine College of Art (1995). Portland, Maine USA

B.A: Kenyon College (1990). Gambier, Ohio USA

Early Education:
International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Princeton High School (1990). Cincinnati, Ohio USA.

Martha is grateful for support from: