Ciel Skål’s work is deeply rooted in how our environment shapes us—how the context of a space influences identity, while the individual, in turn, leaves their mark on the environment, whether actively or passively. She explore the constant push and pull between the tangible and abstract, both conceptually and physically, incorporating the environment into each piece through the materiality of locally gathered water. The water, collected from the places she’s called home—Norway, the Mediterranean, the Pacific Northwest, Wisconsin, and beyond—interact with the material mediums, embedding a sense of place directly into the work.

————-

Ciel Skål navigates these caveats of identity and the weight of generational trauma through the lens of place and belonging. Growing up amidst frequent moves, Skål reflects on her family’s struggle to define “home” – not just as a physical space, but as a cultural and emotional anchor. This transient upbringing, steeped in shifting landscapes, informs her process and her art’s thematic core.
Her practice begins with dripping ink and geographically-significant collected water onto paper, allowing it to flow unpredictably, mirroring the uncontrollable forces of environment and memory. From this chaos, she carves figures that are both faceless and profoundly emotive, speaking a language of grief and reconciliation through their hands. Each hand gestures toward a nuanced dialogue – pain, resilience, and healing.

Working in mixed media, Skål blurs boundaries with graphite, watercolor, and ink, echoing the fluidity of identity and environment.