Mette-Line Pedersen

Mette-Line Pedersen serves as Senior Adviser and Curator for the University of Agder's Art Collection within the Faculty of Fine Arts. She has held this position since 2012, managing the university's art collection while also teaching art history courses. Her professional profile combines curatorial expertise with academic instruction, particularly in contemporary art and Beat art.

Her educational background includes a Cand.philol degree in Art History from the University of Bergen (UiB), with a Master's thesis focusing on Mariko Mori. She has completed additional education qualifying her as an associate professor, including practical pedagogical training. Her additional qualifications span philosophical aesthetics (UiB), photography (OsloMet), coaching and guidance, and Steiner pedagogy.

Pedersen's research interests center on contemporary art with special emphasis on Beat art, textile arts, and art curation. Her work bridges academic scholarship with practical curation, examining how art functions in both institutional and public contexts. She has published extensively on art historical topics, with particular focus on embroidery techniques, public art spaces, and the intersection of technology and artistic expression.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals consistent engagement with contemporary art discourse, particularly examining Beat art movements, textile arts heritage, and the evolving role of art in society. Her scholarly output demonstrates a clear trajectory from examining specific artists and movements to broader philosophical questions about art's purpose and value.

Her professional achievements include:

• Authoring three major publications: The Beat Art Collection at the University of Agder (2017, 2nd ed. 2019), Connecting Lines. Engravings from the Wennesland Collection (2016), and Traces of Beat (2020, 2nd ed.)
• Curating numerous exhibitions, including the recent "Take a walk on the wild side" Beat art exhibition at BARE student house/Kraftverk (May-September 2024)
• Contributing catalog texts for Bomuldsfabriken Kunsthall exhibitions since 2009
• Regular contributions to art magazines and newspapers including Agderposten, Fædrelandsvennen, and Magasinet x-faktor

As an educator, Pedersen has supervised bachelor students, served as an examiner, and taught art history on the Multimedia Bachelor's program at Campus Grimstad. She is active in UiA's research group on Art and children/youth, demonstrating commitment to art education across multiple generations. Her professional activities extend to managing digital platforms for the art collection, developing aesthetic guidelines, and representing UiA's interests in art-related construction projects through KORO.