What inspired you to become an artist?

I guess it's like asking which came first, the chicken or the egg. At least, that’s how it feels in my case. I've always loved drawing as a kid, and I was pretty good at it. We lived in the middle of nowhere—well, less than 20 kilometers from a city of 150,000 people, to be fair—but without public transportation, those 20 kilometers felt like 200. So, I had to fill my days with something, and often that something was drawing. I don’t think I was much better than others, maybe just a little, but I suppose I became an artist because of all the positive feedback I got from my parents and my school teacher (a fantastic Dorothean nun, to be precise) in the beginning. It continued with real passion that later on, became lack of concrete job alternatives. Now it's only passion.

How do you approach a new artwork or project?

I usually try to fill my head with inspiration and then take a break from whatever I’m working on. Afterward, I sort all my ideas into folders on my PC, and from there, the distance between digital information and paint on canvas is short.

Are you working on any upcoming projects?

Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of watercolors. We welcomed a beautiful baby boy in May, and my studio time has understandably (and predictably) vanished. So, I’ve been painting at home, in our office. I enjoy watercolors because they require less time compared to, say, a 2x2 meter canvas painting, but they demand laser-sharp focus. They’re unforgiving—there’s no ‘Ctrl+Z’ button or option to cover a mistake with a new layer of white oil paint.

The funny thing is, by the end of this month, I’ll be starting a new project: a mural over 200m² in size. It’s going to be quite the shift from A3 paper!

Would you like to share any other upcoming projects or specific works?

I’m about to dive into the mural project, and it’s going to be an exciting challenge to shift from watercolors to something so large-scale. I’m always drawn to the balance between control and unpredictability in my work, and this wall will definitely push both elements.

Visit Manuel Portioli's Atelie profile

Can you recommend any artists for visitors to check out during B-open?

Definitely. There are a few artists I would highly recommend:

Eléonore Griveau - Her everyday-use ceramics are beautiful (I hope she doesn’t mind me saying that), and her work as an artist is both strong and terribly relevant. Visit Atelie profile.

Anthony Morton - He captures beautiful photographs of his homeland and the people close to him, blending a sense of exoticism and melancholy. His work strikes a chord, especially for someone like me who also lives far from their homeland. His paintings are striking in person—thick textured, finished with archetypal strokes. Visit Atelie profile.

Håkon Holm-Olsen - His collages are quirky and skilfully crafted, like windows into an alternate reality of 1950s sci-fi imagery. Visit Atelie profile.

B-open is a great opportunity to connect with the public, allowing people to see firsthand how we work as artists. It also fosters dialogue between artists and visitors, bridging the gap between our creative process and the people who appreciate our work. It’s an inspiring event, both for the public and for us as artists.

For further details and to plan your art-filled weekend, download the official program and follow B-Open and Atelie on social media for updates and announcements. You can also read more on b-open.no