The Tangen Collection Expands with 333 Works from the Nordic Modernist Period

AKO Art Foundation has announced to acquire 333 works from The Canica Collection, owned by art collector Stein Erik Hagen, for NOK 240 million. The artworks, spanning the period from 1910 to 1970, will now find a new home at Kunstsilo in Kristiansand as part of the Tangen Collection, the world's largest collection of Nordic modernism.

With this significant expansion, the Tangen Collection gains several important works by key Nordic artists, adding new dimensions to the collection. The broad representation of artistic contributions from the period enhances the collection’s unique position as an unparalleled source of insight into modern Nordic art history.

Reidar Fuglestad, CEO of Kunstsilo, expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition:

“This is an incredibly important milestone for Kunstsilo and the art sector in Norway. The Tangen Collection is a Nordic treasure, and we are very proud to contribute to its expansion and enrichment with so many fantastic works from The Canica Collection. We look forward to presenting these pieces to a wide audience and creating more opportunities to delve into our shared art history.”

Managed and curated by the newly opened art museum, Kunstsilo, The Tangen Collection already includes some of the most iconic works of Nordic modernism and has received international recognition for its quality and scope. According to Else-Brit Kroneberg, Head of Kunstsilo’s Art Collections, this expansion is a crucial step in the ongoing development of the collection:

“This is fantastic news for Kunstsilo, for Kristiansand, and for Norway. It means these historically important works will have a permanent home in the country. The Canica Collection highlights the Nordic avant-garde, with a particular focus on experimental, expressive, and surrealist tendencies. It includes several significant works by pioneers such as Gösta Adrian-Nilsson, Vilhelm Lundstrøm, Franciska Klausen, Rita Kern-Larsen, Wilhelm Freddie, and many others. This acquisition will supplement and strengthen The Tangen Collection superbly, further solidifying Kunstsilo’s position within Nordic modernism.”