British Museum Unveils Major Nordic Art Exhibition Spanning 80 Years of Scandinavian Creativity

“Nordic Noir” showcases 150 works from Edvard Munch to contemporary artists, representing five years of strategic collecting

The British Museum is set to open one of its most ambitious exhibitions in decades, presenting a comprehensive survey of Nordic graphic art that spans from the post-war era to the present day. “Nordic Noir: Works on Paper from Edvard Munch to Mamma Andersson” opens October 9, 2025, offering Londoners an unprecedented opportunity to explore the artistic legacy of Scandinavia’s most influential creators.

Running through March 22, 2026, in Room 90, the free exhibition represents the culmination of an ambitious five-year collecting strategy that has transformed the British Museum into home to one of the world’s finest collections of Nordic art outside Scandinavia itself.

From Munch’s Legacy to Contemporary Voices

The exhibition opens with two powerful woodcut prints by Norway’s most famous artistic export, Edvard Munch, before tracing how Nordic artists have continued to develop his legacy of emotional intensity and artistic innovation following his death in 1944. The chronological narrative showcases 150 works from 100 different artists across Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

“This project was a five-year voyage of discovery,” explains Jennifer Ramkalawon, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Nordic Graphic Art. “These countries have so much creativity to offer with contemporary artists exploring themes of nature, the environment, identity and heritage. The artists in the show are well-known in their home countries, but this exhibition aims to showcase the incredible array of talent from the Nordic lands to a wider UK and international audience.”

Beyond Stereotypes: The Complexity of Nordic Identity

While Scandinavia is often viewed as a homogeneous entity by outsiders, “Nordic Noir” deliberately challenges this perception by highlighting the individual characteristics and complexities within various Nordic countries. The exhibition also questions what it means to be a Nordic artist in today’s globalized world, featuring works by artists who have both immigrated to and emigrated from the region.

Featured artists include internationally renowned figures like Olafur Eliasson and Mamma Andersson, alongside lesser-known talents such as John Savio, Vanessa Baird, Yuichiro Sato, Fatima Moallim, and John Kørner. Many of these works will be displayed publicly for the first time.

Universal Themes, Nordic Perspectives

The artworks explore themes that resonate far beyond Scandinavia’s borders while maintaining distinctly Nordic perspectives. Central to many works is the region’s dramatic natural environment—the fjords, mountains, and forests that define the Nordic landscape and the vital urgency to preserve these unique ecosystems.

Other recurring themes include Norse mythology, mental health struggles, post-war anxiety, Cold War tensions, feminism, and the rights of Indigenous Sámi people. These works demonstrate how Nordic artists have consistently used graphic arts to address both personal and political concerns with remarkable directness and emotional power.

A Strategic Investment in Nordic Culture

The exhibition showcases the results of a landmark collecting project supported by a substantial grant from the AKO Foundation, a UK charity established by Norwegian financier Nicolai Tangen. This initiative resulted in the acquisition of almost 400 works, building upon Nordic prints the Museum purchased in the 1990s.

“It has been almost 30 years since the British Museum devoted a show to Nordic graphic art,” notes Xerxes Mazda, Director of Collections. “Thanks to the generosity of AKO foundation, we have been able to build one of the best collections of Nordic art outside the region, investing in and exploring how artists such as Mamma Andersson have developed the legacy of an artist like Edvard Munch.”

World-Class Prints and Drawings Collection

The exhibition draws from the British Museum’s Department of Prints and Drawings, which houses one of the world’s greatest collections of works on paper. With approximately 50,000 drawings and more than two million prints, the collection charts the development of graphic arts in Europe from the 1400s to the present day, including outstanding holdings by masters such as Dürer, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Hogarth, Goya, Kollwitz, and Picasso.

A Foundation’s Nordic Vision

The AKO Foundation has been instrumental in promoting Nordic art internationally, having previously supported the British Museum’s 2019 “Edvard Munch: Love and Angst” exhibition and the 2020 “Arctic: Culture and Climate” show. The foundation was also key in establishing the new Kunstsilo museum in Kristiansand, Norway, which has become a leading center for Nordic modernism since opening in 2024.

Planning Your Visit

“Nordic Noir: Works on Paper from Edvard Munch to Mamma Andersson” is a free exhibition running from October 9, 2025, through March 22, 2026, in Room 90 of the British Museum. The museum is easily accessible via Russell Square (Piccadilly Line), Holborn (Central and Piccadilly Lines), or Tottenham Court Road (Central, Elizabeth, and Northern Lines) stations.

A beautifully illustrated catalogue by Jennifer Ramkalawon will be available from the British Museum Press for £35, providing deeper context for this remarkable collection.

For art enthusiasts and anyone curious about Scandinavian culture, this exhibition offers a rare chance to explore the depth and diversity of Nordic creativity in one of London’s most prestigious cultural institutions. It’s a reminder that while we may think we know Nordic art through Munch and IKEA, there’s an entire universe of artistic expression waiting to be discovered just beyond our preconceptions.