Artist in Residence Molobyen, Bodø
A city in the making. AIR Molobyen is a Residency program focusing on transforming the urban district Molobyen in Bodø, through art, architecture, and culture. We are experimenting with temporary and semi-permanent installations and projects in the public environment. We collaborate with artists, architects, and other creative actors locally and worldwide.
Below we showcase some of the AIR-projects.
OPEN CALL & APPLICATIONS
Apply for our Artist in Residence in Molobyen, Bodø now!
We announce Open Calls regularly, but you can also send us your proposal at any time.
PREVIOUS AIR PROJECTS
Architect in Residence
Anastasiia Ignatova
This summer, AIR Molobyen hosted architect Anastasiia Ignatova in a residency exploring new public sauna spaces for Molobyen. Her work resulted in an inclusive design proposal for a potential third sauna at Fauna Sauna, shaped through community engagement and site-based research. The project was a collaboration with Nordnorsk Badstuforening (Northern Norwegian Sauna Association).
JULY-OCT 2025
ARCHITECT: ANASTASIIA IGNATOVA
COLLAB: MOLOBYEN + FAUNA SAUNA /NN BADSTUEFORENING
TRYGVE LUKTVASSLIMO
This winter, Trygve Luktvasslimo — a well-known Northern Norwegian filmmaker, author and visual artist — moved into Bispegården as part of the AIR Molobyen residency program.
At Bispegården, Trygve worked on his next feature film, Snekkersprekken — a story set in a small, remote northern village undergoing revitalization, told through a layered narrative that reflects both local life and global dynamics.
This residency underscores to support bold, place-rooted storytelling — welcoming creators whose voices enrich the evolving cultural identity of the region.
We are looking forward to see the end result, when the film is launched.
ARTIST: TRYGVE LUKTVASSLIMO (NO)
YEAR: 2025
COLLAB: CATO LAUVLI
Chef in Residence
Martin Dolz
In April AIR Molobyen got its first Chefs in Resiedence project. Renowned chef Martin Dolz, origianlly from Argentina, now living in Mo i Rana came to create a Pop-Up fine-dining experience. His residency resulted in a test-restaurat at Bispegården where he served a ten-course menu built around local, sustainable ingredients — a culinary journey aimed at celebrating local tastes and creating lasting memories.
The event reflects Molobyen’s ambition to test new cultural and gastronomic concepts as part of its urban transformation — combining food, place and community to explore what the neighbourhood can become.
APRIL 2025
CHEF: MARTIN DOLZ (ARGENTINA/MO I RANA)
SEA OF SOUNDS
Artist in Residence Michal Lovecky
An immersive VR Experience with Ocean Sounds presenting Marine Mammals of the Vestfjord.
Michal Lovecky (Germany/Czech Republic) came as an Artist in Residence, during August 2024. He worked together with the scientists from Ocean Sounds, Nord University.
Together they created a unique event where participants could dive into the world of ocean sounds and marine life. Over three days, people from Bodø had the opportunity to experience a virtual reality Exhibition called "Sea of Sounds”.
Foto: Michal Lovecky & Christine Karijord
Artists in Residence
Marjan Najafi & Partin Bastan
In 2024–2025, AIR Molobyen welcomed Partin Bastan and Marjan Najafi — an Iranian artist duo who moved into Bispegården as part of our Artist-in-Residence programme.
During their stay, they transformed a workshop into a creative studio, finally able to create without censorship or constraints. They’ve held exhibitions and artist talks and have created a warm relationship with the people of Bodø.
Their work reflects deep personal stories of displacement, freedom of expression, and the power of art as resistance — and stands as a poignant symbol of what AIR Molobyen aims to achieve: a safe, open platform for diverse voices to shape the city.
ARTISTS: PARTIN BASTAN, MARJAN NAJAFI, IRAN
YEAR: 2024-2025
MARBLE ART
Stories in layers. Av Martine Eidissen Nymo.
The marble installation by artist Martine Eidissen Nymo is based on the rich story from the marble tradition in Fauske. Six blocks of marble art, are placed along the coastline in Molobyen. The installation tells us about the cutural heritage of the region and gives us an idea about the simplicity and beauty the natural resourses have given us.
The inaguration was well visited on the opening day of Bodø 2024, 3rd of Februrary.
ARTIST: MARTINE EIDISSEN NYMO
COLLABORATION: BODØ2024
YEAR: 2024
Foto: Christine Karijord, Åsta Børte
Artist in Residence: Guido Bisagni / 108 (it)
Bisagni is a historic exponent of the Italian urban art scene and is considered one of the first and greatest exponents of abstract post-graffiti art on a national and European level.
Bisagni will during the week before the opening use the gallery as his studio, where it's possible for the public to visit and see the artist at work.
Prosjekt 67 are also collaborating with Den Frie Presse at Bodøgaard where Bisagni will produce a woodcut print for the exhibition.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
In 1999 Bisagni abandoned traditional graffiti lettering to devote himself to more distinctive and characterizing expressive formulas, as also underscored by the transition to the pseudonym 108, a de-personalizing name derived from a combination of interests in Eastern philosophies and geometry. Signs, symbols, abstract materializations with organic features make up his new poetic and spiritual imagery, in the conception of which contaminations of different sources take over, from the abstractionism of the historical avant-gardes to the Dadaist causality of H. Arp, from numerology to primitive painting. The shamanic component of Eastern religions and Kandinsky’s color theory are fundamental contributions to build a discourse around these soft, ethereal and heavy forms at the same time, not so much in the direction of their aesthetic bearing, though very present, but in their universal intimacy.
Following the discovery of L. Russolo’s sound compositions, 108 also broadened his experimentation to the field of music under the pseudonym Larva 108. With the help of old computers and acoustic instruments, he transposes the restlessness of wall works into the production of disturbing noises and sound compositions.
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: GUIDO BISAGNI (108)
Architecture for the public (2023)
NTNU architecture students & Nord-Norsk Badstueforening creating a local meeting place, including two saunas and a greenhouse for urban gardening.
FAUNA SAUNA
A public art gallery made from old containers.
Run by Prosjekt67.
Supported by Samfunnsløftet, Bodø2024, KORO, Molobyen, Bodø Kommune.
KUNSTCONTAINER / ART CONTAINER
Mural painting & collaboration with a school class (2023)
Artwork: Rudi & Robin Gundersen
Artist: Espen Henningsen
Curator: Gøran Moya
PELLE MOLINS VEGG
Art, architecture, and recycled concrete (2022)
Artist: Milu Chorres, Argentina
Architect: Sami Rintalla, Bodø
Curator: Gøran Moya
CONCRETE DREAMING / KUNSTPAUSE MOLOBYEN
Kunstpausen “Concrete Dreaming” er en midlertidig installasjon som retter fokus mot gjenbruk av materialer i byutviklingen. Betongen er gjenbrukt fra Bodø flystasjon og benkene er laget av gammel tømmer fra Beiarn. Veggmaleriene er inspirert av lokale historier om heksebrenning i middelalderen, og er malt av den argentinske gatekunstneren Milu Correch.
I samarbeid med Molobyen Utvikling, Kulturkollektivet, Bodø Kommune, Bodø 2024, Bankgata Ungdomsskole. Med støtte fra Kunst i offentlig rom (KORO).