We have a winner!
In June, the jury for the Kjell Aukrust grant for young illustrators reviewed 104 applications. We are proud to congratulate Kjersti Synneva Moen on being awarded grant funding of NOK 100,000. The aim of the grant is to support young illustrators and graphic artists who are at the beginning or in the middle of their careers – it is a tribute to the linework, curiosity, and joy of creating that Kjell carried with him throughout his life.
On Tuesday 28 October at 14:00, we invite you to an award ceremony at Huset Aukrust in Alvdal. The grant will be presented by Mayor Mona Murud.
We hope you will join us for this special occasion and light refreshments. There will also be an opportunity to meet the young artist! Kjersti Synneva Moen is an illustrator and comics creator. She creates graphic novels for children and young people, as well as editorial illustrations for newspapers. Among other works, she is behind the comic Grip den føkkings dagen, for which she has received several distinctions and awards.
Background:
On 24 June 2025, the jury met to review a total of 104 applications. The jury consists of Øyvind Torseter (illustrator and children's author), Hilde Lunde (Managing Director of Tegnerforbundet – Centre for Drawing Art), Hilde Bergebakken (Managing Director of Huset Aukrust), Trine Nordkvelle (art historian, research fellow at the National Museum, and deputy member of the Aukrust Foundation), and Benedikte Kjernsmo (Managing Director of the Aukrust Foundation). A unanimous jury agreed to award the full sum of NOK 100,000 to illustrator and comics creator Kjersti Synneva Moen. The grant meets her application for support for a study trip and will also contribute to Kjersti Synneva's future projects and publications.
The jury's statement:
Kjersti Synneva Moen has submitted a well-rounded application with a clear application text. It is clear what she wishes to use the grant for, and together with her CV and artwork, she makes it clear to the jury how support from the grant will help develop her artistic skills.
The jury sees a strong illustrator with a confident line. Her illustrations show authenticity and individuality – and the style is consistent and recognisable in form, colour, and expression. She is technically skilled and able to simplify facial features and body language into a naive form, while still maintaining a strong and distinct expression. The illustrations show characters/types that are easy to recognise and that, despite their differences and individuality, remain true throughout to the universe Kjersti Synneva works within. There is something classic about her illustrations, yet at the same time playful, fresh, and new. The compositions demonstrate a keen eye – and this, combined with small, interesting details and generous use of colour, shows the jury a confident artist who wants to say something through the images and the characters she creates. In her application, Kjersti Synneva describes her artistic journey and points to a tactile and exciting way of working. Among other things, she uses air-drying clay in which facial expressions and character traits are made clear. The jury notes her passion for drawing and how this form of expression is part of who she is, and a natural way for her to express herself.
The jury sees great potential in the further development of Kjersti Synneva's art and world of characters, and is left wanting to see more of the characters/types she creates. It is therefore a pleasure to support her study trip to Berlin, where the study of character development is central – while also helping ensure that Moen's line continues to shape more figures and convey new stories in the years ahead. We congratulate her and look forward to following her journey onward!