Hélène Arja is a Norwegian artistic soul rooted in Oslo.
The balance between raw authenticity and delicate aesthetics is important in my practice. Work that enable communities to blossom, raise nature awareness or invoke peoples presence, gives me purpose. I always aim to create concepts and experiences guided by nature as both premise and inspiration.
She holds a MA in Design from The Oslo School of Architecture and Design, with a specialization in place development. She also studied sociology at The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and graduated with a BA in Journalism from Media University College, in Kristiansand.
Today, Hélène Arja's practice mainly represents works in the field of the arts.
Fields of profession
Artist
Hélène Arja is a sculptural artist with previous projects that touch upon nature, belonging, culture and rituals.
Selected by The Norwegian Sculptors Society to create ceramic artworks for the gallery Villa Furulund in Oslo.
Academic Advisor & Researcher
Hélène Arja is open for academic work, and has been academically active as external advisor, mentor and examiner for master's students, graduating with subjects within art, design and place development.
She also represent a practice as a visual researcher with artistic explorations that combines her background in art, journalism & design.
Norwegian University of Sience
The Oslo National Academy of The Arts
The Oslo School of Architecture and Design
Oslo Metropolitan University
Place Developer
Hélène Arja has long experince as a place strategist, developing place identities.
Her history as a place developer represent over 15 years of practice and spans from development and design of public parks, urban squares, small un-urban villages, cultural venues – to city strategies.
Awards & honors
Exhibition
for The Association of
Norwegian Sculptors
–
«ON MOVEMENTS IN STONE» 2025-2026
PROJECT: STONE BODIES & RITUAL ARTEFACTS
Exhibition & Concerts:
Sound sculptures
& scenography
–
MIR OSLO 2023 / KURO 2024
PROJECT: KLANG
Exhibited as
Great example of
Scandinavian Inclusive Design
–
ZLIN DESIGN WEEK, 2023
PROJECT: DONT'T FEAR THE GRIEVER
Honored for
Excellent Sustainable
Un Urban Experiment
–
STAY HUMAN, 2019
PROJECT: TRÆNA GRENDEHUS
Prize for
Best Sustainable
Design Project
–
AHO AWARDS / EGGS, 2018
PROJECT: INCLUSIVE DIGITAL CITY MANIFESTO
Prize for
Excellence in the field of
Strategic Design
–
AHO AWARDS / LIVEWORK, 2017
PROJECT: FERTILITY TOOLS
Prize for
Outstanding use of Design
and Architecture
–
DOGA AWARD, 2017
PROJECT: LANGBORDET
Honorable mention for
Best Sustainable
Product Design
–
AHO AWARDS, 2016
PROJECT: CASTANEA - LANDSCAPE FURNITURE
Prize for
Best Exhibition
Design
–
AHO AWARDS, 2016
PROJECT: SOD STUDIO
Honorable mention for
Excellent
Product Design Work
–
AHO AWARDS, 2015
PROJECT: KLUNK
