Born in 1968 and based in Lofoten, Norway, Cecilie Haaland is an acclaimed ceramic artist and photographer whose work merges traditional craft with conceptual visual storytelling. A full-time artisan, her practice spans everyday ceramic objects to refined contemporary artworks that reflect the landscapes, light and cultural histories of northern Norway. 

Haaland is best known for her innovative project “phottery,” an artistic exploration that combines pinhole photography with porcelain. Using ceramic cameras she handcrafts herself, she captures analog images that are later transferred onto porcelain surfaces with liquid emulsion inside her darkroom. This process creates a unique dialogue between the three-dimensional form and the two-dimensional image. 

Her work is deeply rooted in ethnology, often involving studies of landscape, found objects, historic buildings and the lived experiences of communities in the High North. Through her art, Haaland seeks to foster curiosity about both the image and the craft behind it, inviting viewers to reflect upon shifting environments, cultural identities and storytelling traditions. Haaland’s pieces are exhibited at Engelskmannsbrygga, a renowned gallery in Henningsvær, where she works alongside other leading Lofoten artisans.