Raw portrait art full of colour, character and movement
Espen Greger Hagen was a Norwegian artist, born in 1964 in Trondheim and died in 2008 in Amsterdam. He became known for his expressive portraits and colourful compositions in which figurative painting, graphic elements and the energy of action painting come together.
Hagen studied drawing in Trondheim and painting and sculpture in Vancouver. In 1990, he graduated from the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam. From the mid-1990s, he worked closely with Herman Brood.
AVAILABLE ARTWORKS
ABOUT ESPEN GREGER HAGEN
Hagen spent a significant part of his childhood in Tanzania and later travelled regularly through North America and Mexico. During these trips, he made portraits of people from indigenous communities he met.
He tried not to capture his models photographically, but focussed on character, emotion and human presence. The powerful glances and monumental compositions give his portraits a direct and penetrating look.
STYLE AND TECHNIQUE
Espen Greger Hagen worked with painting and mixed techniques. Depending on the artwork, he combined paint with spraying techniques, templates, texts, graphic patterns and spontaneously applied paint splashes.
Wide brush strokes, visible drippers, bright colour contrasts and powerful contours make the painting process palpable. His work has interfaces with neo-expressionism, pop art and action painting, but has a clearly recognisable signature of its own.
INTERNATIONAL CAREER
Hagen’s artistic development led him through Norway, Tanzania, Canada and the Netherlands. After his education in Trondheim and Vancouver, he settled in Amsterdam, where he graduated from the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in 1990.
In the 1990s, he became part of the energetic Dutch art scene. Together with Herman Brood, he provided action-painting performances and joint exhibitions. His work was presented in the Netherlands and internationally and is still loved by art lovers and collectors.
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VIEW ESPEN GREGER HAGEN IN UTRECHT
Experience the power, colour and depth of his work in our gallery. Personal advice and viewing by appointment.
Keulsekade 189 • Utrecht
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Espen Greger Hagen was a Norwegian painter, born in 1964 in Trondheim and died in 2008 in Amsterdam. He became known for his expressive portraits, powerful colours and direct painting style. Hagen studied in Vancouver and at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, among others.
From the mid-1990s, Espen Greger Hagen worked closely with Herman Brood. The artists provided joint exhibitions and action-painting performances. Their work from this period is characterised by speed, spontaneity, powerful lines and a free handling of paint.
Hagen mainly painted expressive portraits, human figures, musicians, animals and scenes from everyday life. During his travels through North America and Mexico, he made portraits of people from indigenous communities. In doing so, he focussed mainly on character, emotion and human presence.
The art of Espen Greger Hagen has common ground with neo-expressionism, pop art and action painting. He combined painting with mixed techniques, including spraying, templates, graphic patterns, texts and paint splashes. Wide brush strokes, drippers and bright colour contrasts give his works a raw and energetic look.
Available artworks by Espen Greger Hagen can be viewed and purchased online via OPUS Art Gallery. You can view the works in Utrecht every Friday from 14:00 to 19:00 or make an appointment on another day. Let us know in advance which work of art you would like to see so that we can prepare it for your visit.