Solveig Øvstebø Appointed Executive Director of Oslo's Astrup Fearnley Museet

Solveig Øvstebø has been appointed to head the Astrup Fearnley Museet in Oslo, marking her return to Norway after a seven-year tenure as executive director and chief curator at the Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago. She takes over from Gunnar B. Kvaran, who resigned in the summer of 2019 after 19 years in the role, citing the 2018 exit of Hans Rasmus Astrup as board chairman as a pivotal moment. The private museum, which has been located in two buildings designed by Renzo Piano since 2012, showcases a collection from the Fearnley shipping family, with a notable emphasis on American art from the 1980s and 1990s, including Jeff Koons's $5.1 million porcelain piece featuring Michael Jackson and his pet chimpanzee Bubbles. Øvstebø also led the Bergen Kunsthall from 2003 to 2013. Her appointment was revealed on December 10, 2019.