Espen Johansen (b. 1985 Bergen, Norway) is a curator, art historian, and writer based in Tromsø, where he is currently doing a curatorial PhD in artistic practice (2022-2026). He holds an MA in Art History from the University of Bergen (2011), a degree in Creative Curating from the Bergen Academy of Art and Design (2014), and a post-master from the Royal Academy of Art in Stockholm, ‘Negotiating Artistic Value: Art and Architecture in Public Space’ (2020).
His curatorial practice stems from investigations into the potency of art as an alternative communicative device through time and across borders in our mediatized society, particularly focusing on art in the public space and the power structures of the public sphere; who gets to say what and how? His exhibition projects are usually developed over long time in close dialog with the artist and results in new productions.
Previously Johansen has worked as Curator for North Norwegian Art Museum, Interim Director for Kabuso Art Center, Curator for the graduation show for Bergen Academy of Art and Design, Assistant Curator for Bergen Kunsthall, and Project Manager for Bergen Assembly. He has worked as Curator and Consultant for new public art commissions for Midtun skole, Bergen Inkluderingssenter and Bergen Tinghus (together with Randi Grov Berger). He has been art theory lecturer at Bergen School of Art for several years and contributed with texts to multiple publications and art magazines.
