Nina K. Ekman (b. in 1979, Norway) creates works that at first glance seem quirky and fun – but which, upon further thought, connect artistic practices of the past and present, humanity and nature, art and craft. Often working with textile and incorporating textile art techniques like embroidery into her paintings in innovative ways, Nina K. Ekman’s works have something to say concerning both form and content. Traditionally, textile art has been the domain of women; barred from formal art education before the early 20th century, women were consigned to expressing themselves via embroidery, sewing, weaving and other textile-based art forms deemed appropriate for women. Over time, textile art grew to become less regarded than painting, sculpture and other more traditional art forms, being associated with “women’s work” and the home, though they can be as expressive and require as much skill to produce as any painting. With her monumental sculptures made using the tufting technique traditionally used when making carpets, Nina K. Ekman’s monumental sculptures tower over the viewer – they assert their presence as much as any bronze or marble sculpture. With their tactile, intricate surface, they make you want to touch them and engage with them – an insistent presence which cannot be ignored.   Often depicting plants and other natural elements, Nina K. Ekman’s art emphasizes our relation to nature – that unlike the everlasting sculptures and artworks, actual plants, forests and natural environments are threatened due to our influence. Using excess yarn from the fashion industry to create her works, the connection becomes even more poignant – the works become a visualisation of the amount of material that society lets go to waste. Nina K. Ekman studied art at Parsons School of Art and Design in Paris, product design at The Design Academy in the Netherlands and copper etching and printing at Atelier Velasco & Meller in Paris. She has exhibited at prominent museums, galleries and venues in Copenhagen and around the world, including Den Frie Center of Contemporary Art in Copenhagen, The Thott Palace (The Embassy of France in Denmark), Officinet Exhibition Space in Copenhagen and Yiwei Gallery in Wuhan, China and BBA Gallery in Berlin, Germany.