Marianne Skjelbred is a contemporary Norwegian artist based in Bergen whose vibrant and light-filled paintings are celebrated for their joyful energy and fearless use of color. Her creative journey began in childhood with drawing and evolved through explorations of linocut, ceramics, charcoal and printmaking. After graduating as a photographer in 1997, she began painting with a distinctive sensitivity to light—an element that remains central to her artistic expression. 

Her work reflects a dynamic interplay between color, texture and emotion, inviting viewers to experience harmony through abstraction. In 2015, Skjelbred was among six artists invited by the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency Naval Systems Division to create a “godmother’s gift” for the Royal Norwegian Navy’s largest vessel, HNoMS Maud. Her winning piece, Ulvetanna, was unveiled on May 21, 2019, by Anniken Huitfeldt, Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. 

Today, Marianne’s paintings are held in private collections across 53 countries worldwide. Her studio, located in Bergen’s historic Bryggen district—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—welcomes visitors eager to experience her creative process firsthand.