Maia Urstad is an artist based in Bergen, Norway working at the intersection of audio and visual art. She was educated at the Bergen National Academy of the Arts and was a member of ska/new-wave group ‘Program 81’, releasing 4 records and touring between 1979-84. Technological progress and communications technology are pervasive themes in her projects, using radio as a key audio, visual and conceptual element, commenting on the temporary nature of present technology, and what traces and stories we leave behind when new inventions enter our daily lives. She has been an active contributor to the Norwegian and international contemporary art scene since the mid 80ties. She is part of the international sound art collective Freq_out curated by CM von Hausswolff, and a co-founder of Lydgalleriet in Bergen. She has created light-and sound installations in collaboration with artist Hilde Hauan since 2007, and together with artist Anton Kats and curator Eva Rowson, they formed Project MÆKUR following a residency at Bergen Kunsthall in 2018 and at Lighthouse in Brighton 2019.   

Maia Urstad was in 2019 awarded “Rune Brynestad's memorial Grant”, Norway’s most finest and largest one-year grants for artists. In 2017 she was appointed as City Sound Artist of Bonn 2017, and exhibited “Time-Tone-Passages”, a 40-channel site specific sound installation based on material from the radio archive of Deutsche Welle 2017-2020.

Her solo and collaboration work has been presented at spaces such as: Bergen Kunsthall (NO), Borderline Festival, Athens (GR), Bonnhoeren (DE), Fundacion Proa (AR), Radiorevolten (DE), Off the Page (NO), Trafo Kunsthall Oslo (NO), High Zero Festival (US), Cafe OTO, London, Barents Spektakel (NO), Singuhr Sound Gallery (DE), Lydgalleriet in Bergen (NO), Visningsrommet USF (NO), Moderna Museet (SE), The 5th Marrakech Biennial (MA), KODE – Bergen Art Museum (NO), Johannesburg Art Gallery (SA), Prefix ICA in Toronto (CA), and Electrohype i Malmö Konsthall (SE). Permanent installasjon i Kongsvinger Festning and Herdla Museum (NO).»

DOWNLOAD CV HERE

ongoing (selection)
- Kongsvinger Fortress: Permanent sound installation commissioned by KORO/Public Art Norway. Since 2016.
- RUMMUR_radio: a radio broadcast initiative from curators, producers and artists Peter Meanwell, Eva Rowson and Maia Urstad
- MÆKUR collective: collaboration between Anton Kats, Eva Rowson and Maia Urstad

UPCOMING:
2024: Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo. Solo exhibition in parallel with Pearla Pigao. 24.05.24 – 04.08.24.

PAST:
2024: BEK- Bergen centre for electronic art, sound performance as part of The Opening Week. 17.02.2024.
2024: Chicago Architecture Center, sound work for «Radio Utopia - News from the world". 24.Feb - 03.March 2024.
2023: XVIIIth Venice International Architecture Exhibition 2023, sound work for «Radio Utopia - News from the world" 1.-5.08 2023.
2023: Sail In of Sound Art, Soundwork for the platform Urban Sound Art, Fredrikstad (NO). 15. July- 15. Aug. 2023.
2023: Hordaland kunstsenter. Pinball Weekend as part of the initiative Dear Neighbour. 20. - 21. May.
2023: Oscillation ::: o tempo — festival 2023, solo performance commissioned by Q‑O2. 27. - 30. April, Brussels.
2023: Borealis – a festival for experimental music, IONOS - commisioned work. World premiere in Bergen, 19. 03. 2023.

2022: Atelier Nord, Oslo: FERD solo exhibition. Part of the Ultima festival 2022. 16.09 – 30.10.22
2022: Ultima Context: artist talk with writer Rob Young. Atelier Nord 18.09.22

2022: «-I»: contribution to a 12-hour online event organized by Christof Migone as part of «You And I Are Water Earth Fire Air Of Life And Death» - a series of twelve annual events taking place on December 12 from noon to midnight EST 2020-2031.
2022: Radio Art Zone: A 22-hour sound work for radio commissioned by Radio Art Zone in Esch2022. 26.07 2023.
2022: ORF Kunstradio: a 26 minutes’ sound piece based on the 22 hours-long «Train Tables and Radio Waves» by Maia Urstad. Producer: Elisabeth Zimmermann, broadcast on FM Ö1 (Austria), RÖI (Shortwave) and online, 28. August at 23.00 CEST
2022: National Museum Norway + Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology: MURMUR installation 01.10 2021 - 24.04.2022
2022: Norwegian Sound Archives Conference: Maia Urstad gave a talk on issues and challenges in archiving and documentation of sound art, with the main focus on sound installations and spatial works. Speakers can be found here. 25. - 26.04.2022.
2022: Quimera Gallery Buenos Aires: ES TIERRA MELANCOLÍA PERROS, Y LA RUTA AVANZA, a group exhibition with 14 international artists, curated by Melina Berkenwald in the context of URRA residencies. Opening 4. February 2022. Norwegian embassy info HERE
2022: The Research Centre for the Humanities (RCH) and the Norwegian Institute at Athens: panel / presentaiton in the conference «Greece and Norway: European center, periphery or it’s complicated?» With: Anna Papaeti (GR/CY), Maia Urstad (NO), Karolin Tampere / NNKS (NO) and acte vide (GR) as part of the Transmissions Sound Art Residency Exchange. April 11th, 2022.
2022: Transmissions Sound Art Residency Exchange will do a joint introduction, listening session and talk in Syros, Greece 13th April 2022. With: researcher Anna Papaeti (GR/CY), artist Maia Urstad (NO), curator Karolin Tampere / NNKS (NO) and respondens, curators and organisors acte vide (GR).
2022: Kunsthall 3,14: Book launch of SPRANG, a long term collaboration between Hilde Hauan and Maia Urstad. Conversation moderated by Anne Marthe Dyvi. 10.Feb 2022.
2021-2022: Oslo kunstforening: Sparebankstiftelsen DNB's Grant Exhibition 2021: Lillian Saksi, Anne Haugsgjerd and Maia Urstad.
2022: Oslo kunstforening: Book Launch, SPRANG, a long term collaboration between Hilde Hauan and Maia Urstad. 6.Jan 22.
2022: Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium, Europalia trains & tracks. 18.01.2022 - 13.02.2022. (Cancelled)
2018 - 2022: Osterøy Museum: “SPRANG” installation, with Hilde Hauan. Commission: BEK and KORO. About Osterøy Museum.
«-I»: contribution to a 12-hour online event organized by Christof Migone as part of «You And I Are Water Earth Fire Air Of Life And Death» - a series of twelve annual events taking place on December 12 from noon to midnight EST 2020-2031.
Radio Art Zone: A 22-hour sound work for radio commissioned by Radio Art Zone as part of Esch2022.
ORF Kunstradio: a 26 minutes’ sound piece based on the 22 hours-long «Train Tables and Radio Waves»
National Museum Norway + Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology: MURMUR sound installation 30.09.2021. - 24.04.2022
Norwegian Sound Archives Conference: a talk on issues and challenges in archiving and documentation of sound art-
Quimera Gallery Buenos Aires: ES TIERRA MELANCOLÍA PERROS, Y LA RUTA AVANZA, a group exhibition with 14 international artists, curated by Melina Berkenwald in the context of URRA residencies.
The Research Centre for the Humanities (RCH) and the Norwegian Institute at Athens: panel / presentaiton in the conference. With: Anna Papaeti (GR/CY), Maia Urstad (NO), Karolin Tampere / NNKS (NO) and acte vide (GR).
Transmissions Sound Art Residency Exchange performance, introduction and talk in Syros, Greece 13th April 2022. With: researcher Anna Papaeti (GR/CY), artist Maia Urstad (NO), curator Karolin Tampere / NNKS (NO) and acte vide (GR).
Kunsthall 3,14: Book launch of SPRANG, a long term collab between Hilde Hauan and Maia Urstad. Moderator: Anne Marthe Dyvi.
Oslo kunstforening: Book Launch, SPRANG by Hilde Hauan and Maia Urstad.
Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium, Europalia trains & tracks. 18.01.2022 - 13.02.2022. In collaboration with Q-02. (Cancelled)
Osterøy Museum: “SPRANG” installation, with Hilde Hauan. Commission: BEK and KORO. About Osterøy Museum.

2021:
Oslo kunstforening: Sparebankstiftelsen DNBs stipendutstilling 2021: Lillian Saksi, Anne Haugsgjerd and Maia Urstad.
LISTENING / HEARING, international symposium bonn hoeren 20. – 23.10.2021. Sound performance.
The Transmissions sound art residency. Invited artists: Anna Papaeti (GR/CY) and Maia Urstad (NO).
Borealis Radio Space. An online radio platform by Borealis Festilval. 15 March–18 April.
The Scientist in Pisco, a mini opera commisioned by «AVGARDE - Bergen's concert series for new music».
With Eva Pfitzenmaier and Ole André Farstad: voice, guitar, electronics; Andrea U. Toft: video, and Nico Trompe: recorded voice. World Premier at Cornerteateret Bergen 5th February, 6th February: Ytre Arna Industrihus.
Kabuso Art Centre, «The Scientist in Pisco», performance as part of en Opera Avgarde commision, 24. April. 2021: NRK Spillerom: guest in a national radio broadscast by Marion Hestholm about Opera Avgarde and The Scientist in Pisco.
Borealis- en festival for eksperimentell musikk a video documentation of The Scientist in Pisco at the Borealis opening.
Creative Monday Meeting at The House of Literature in Bergen, Maia Urstad: insight to working methods and creative practice.

2020:
Kabuso, solo exhibition at Kabuso Arthouse with Lars Ove Toft. Hardanger (NO) 8th February - 31st May 2020.
Reina Sofia Museum, AUDIOSPHERE: “Social Experimental Audio, Pre- and Post-Internet”, curated by Francisco Lopez
Sonic Acts Academy 2020: MÆKUR: Anton Kats + Maia Urstad + Eva Row­son. Amsterdam, february 2020.
NyMusikk at Borealisfestival 2020. Conversation about possible international strategies for the contemporary music field.
Hordaland kunstsenter: «Ambient poetry» - a 45 minutes’ live radio conversation initiated by artist William Kudahl 13th Feb.
OORtreders Festival, Belgium / MÆKUR - residency and performance with Eva Rowson and Anton Kats. Oct 2020 ((Cancelled).

2019:
- Sonic Acts Academy 2020: MÆKUR: Anton Kats + Maia Urstad + Eva Row­son. 23rd. February 2020.
- 14. Bienal de Artes Mediales, Santiago de Chile (CL) November - December 2019
- Bonnhoeren, Zeit-Ton-Passagen: Radiophonic Concert. 28th September 2019.
- Struer Tracks Urban Sound Art Festival. New sound installation, tba. Struer, Denmark, 22.08 - 07.09 2019
- Lighthouse, Brighton (GB). MAKU: Maia Urstad and Anton Kats in residence, 13th-23rd June 2019. Curated by Eva Rowson
- Hardanger Musikkfestival, commissioned sound installation, SIDERSOGER, at Alvavoll, Lofthus, Norway, 6.-10.06 2019
- Universität der Künste, Berlin, Special guest at a lecture by Carsten Seiffarth at department of Sound Studies and Sonic Arts.
- Borderline Festival, Athens. New sound installation, MURMUR at Onassis Cultural Center, 5.-7.04 2019
- Art Fair Suomi 19, sound work for Galleri Ruth’s Drive-In of Sound Art, an out-door artist-run sound gallery
- Zeit-Ton-Passagen. 40-channel radio installation in the Welckerpassage, Bonn. Open till 30th Sept. 2019.

2018:
- Bergen Kunsthall «On Circulation». 16. November 2018 — 13. January 2019. Live commision 21 - 25. Nov.
- Landmark, Bergen Kunsthall, live performances from Maia Urstad + ИЛЬИЧ (Anton Kats). 23. November
- Bergen Kunsthall: “Plattform: On Maintaining Circulation”, symposium and radio transmission
- Osterøy Museum: “SPRANG” by H. Hauan and M. Urstad. Commissioned by BEK and KORO. 2018-2021
- Time-Tone Passages. Public 40 channel radio installation, commissioned by Bonnhoeren.
- Deutschland Funk «radio piece zeit-ton-passagen», commisioned work for radio. 2018-2019.
- MACBA Web Radio: «#264 Maia Urstad», podcast by Anna Ramos and André Chêdas. Launched 28.06.2018 (75' 16'')
- MACBA Web Radio: «#264 deleted scenes, launched 26.09.2018 (10' 36'')
- «Urban Sound Art» a Bonnhoeren exhibition at the Onassis Cultural Center, Athens, 19th-28th October 2018
- The Ethernal Chord «Semper Liber» CD release spring 2018 curated by Mike Harding, published by Field Music.
- Artist presentation at «Nye Stemmer», a project initiated and led by Rebecka Ahvenniemi. Bergen Library, Norway, 12th May.
- Landmark, Bergen Kunsthall: Live performance at the launch of Brandon LaBelle’s new book «Sonic Agency».  16th April 2018.
- Borealis Festival - Radio is Dead. Long Live Radio! with Anna Ramos, Jan Høgh Stricker, Peter Meanwell and Maia Urstad
- Tapeloping: 30th Anniversary radio stream - contribution to a radio stream for Art's Birthday 2018 by Absolute Value of Noise.
2017:
- Trafo Kunsthall, Oslo. «LINJE». Solo exhibition with Hilde Hauan Johnsen (NO)
-  WDR3, Funkhaus Wallrafplatz Cologne, concert installation by Maia Urstad and Dirk Specht (DE)
- «Babel Underground» concert installations at Global Media Forum, Bonn with Dirk Specht. June 17. Part of Bonnhoeren.
- Off the Page, nyMusikk, Bergen Kunsthall: ”Elegy to FM”  (NO)
- Visningsrommet USF, Bergen. «SPRANG USF», solo exhibition with Hilde Hauan Johnsen (NO)«
- Ô1 Kunstradio: «Radio Hommage an Pauline Oliveros». contribution to Phonofemme festival 2017. 
2016:
- Radio Revolten II- sound installation at Stadtmuseum, Halle / Saale (DE)
- Kongsvinger Fortress. Permanent sound installation commissioned by KORO/Public Art Norway
- Proa Foundation Contemporary Space, Buenos Aires. Solo exhibiiton (AR)
- Proa Foundation, Performative sound work with Peter Meanwell and Lars Ove Toft
- «Bosquejar Esbozar Proyectar» score drawings for an exhibition curated by Javier Aparicio and Santiago Bengolea. Buenos Aires (AR)
- The 18th Annual High Zero Festival, Baltimore. Solo- and group performances (USA)
- Tonspur Kunstverein «Freq_out 11» curators: CMvon Hausswolff & Franz Pomassl. Vienna (AT)
- Works for Radio at Nikolaj Kunsthal, Copenhagen, commisioned by The Lake Radio (DK)  
2015:
- Barents Spektakel, Kirkenes (NO)
- Landmark, Bergen - BEK Anniversary: performative sound work with Peter Meanwell and Lars Ove Toft
- Lydgalleriet, performative sound project with Conrad Kemp (ZA) curated by Daniella Cascella
2014:
- The 5th Marrakech biennial curated by Hicham Khalidi, solo performance and Freq-out #10 installation.
- Galleri SOFT, Oslo, SPRANG, solo exhibition with Hilde Hauan Johnsen (NO)
- Volt  - Visningsrommet USF, Bergen, CARGO solo exhibition. More HERE.
- Galerie Del Infinito Arte - Buenos Aires, URRA 2014. Group exhibition.
- Freq_out 1.2 (skandion) permanent sound installation at Skandion Clinic, Uppsala (SE)
2013:
- Only Connect Festival of Sound, Oslo
- De Stedelijk, Sonic Acts - freq_out 10
2012:
- Moderna Museet  - Freq_out 8
- Den Frie Contemporary Art, Copenhagen,
- Cafe OTO London,
- Singuhr Sound Galleri, Berlin,
- Lydgalleriet, Bergen,
- Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum og Sogn and Fjordane Kunstmuseum, with Hilde Hauan
2011:
- Intro-in-Situ, Maastrich (NL),
- Skanu Mez / Resonance Riga (LV),
- Flanders Festival Kortrijk (BE),
- Hordaland Kunstsenter, Len LIVE, Bergen (NO),
2010:
- Museu de Arte Moderna // MAMAM do patio, Rezife, Brazil
- KODE Bergen - BGO#1,
- Herdla Museum, Askøy,
- Barnas Kulturhus, with Maria Øy Lojo, Bergen (NO)
2009:
- Museum for Contemporary Art, Kaliningrad (RUS)
- Northumberland Transfer, Newcastle (UK)
- Lydgalleriet (the Sound Gallery) in Bergen (NO),
- Disturbances at Johannesburg Art Gallery South-Africa,
- Visningsrommet USF, Bergen (NO)
2008:
- Intervall - Bergen City Hall (NO),
- Article Biennial, Stavanger (NO),
- Danielle Arnoud Contemporary Art Gallery, London (UK)
- Happy New Ears Festival (BE),
- Ambience 08 - Sweden (SE)
- Borealis festival - Bergen (NO),
- Textile 07 at Kaunas National Museum Lithuania (LT),
- Rainbow Audio Transformation at Extra City in Antwerp (BE)
2007:
- Larm, Kulturhuset Stockholm (SE),
- Sound Bank at the Borealis Festival, Bergen (NO),
- freq_out 5, Chiangmai, Thailand (TH),
- freq_out 6, Kunsthalle Budapest (HU),
2006:
- Prefix Institute of Contemporary Art, Toronto, Canada (CAN)
- Version 06, Chicago (USA)
- The Idea of North, Halifax, Canada (and Galleri F15 Norway 2005),
- freq-out 4 - Sonambiente, Berlin (DE),
2005:
- Electrohype - Malmø Konsthall, Malmø (SE),
- freq-out 3 - Nuit Blanche, Paris (FRA)
- Landmark, Bergen Kunsthall, Bergen (NO),
2004:
- Borealis festival, Bergen (NO),
- Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival, Oslo (NO),
- Beta I, BIT Teatergarasjen, Bergen (NO),