Jessica MacMillan (b. 1987, New Hampshire, USA) is an artist and amateur astronomer based in Oslo, Norway. Through kinetic sculpture, 3D animation, and installation, MacMillan's work investigates concepts in astronomy and planetary science. Using optical instruments, geophysical orientation, and ordinary found objects, she focuses on bridging the gap between our everyday lived experience and the context that contains us: on a tiny and fragile planet, in a massive solar system, within a galaxy among billions.



SOLO EXHIBITIONS + PROJECTS ︎︎︎

2025    Light Measured in Years, Harestua Solar Observatory, Harestua, Norway
2024    Incense for the Mesosphere, Kyoto Art Center, Kyoto, Japan
2023    The World Before Eyes, K4 galleri, Oslo, Norway
2021    Time Line, Artica Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Svalbard
2021    Everyday Moons, Billedkunstnerne i Oslo og Akershus (BOA), Oslo, Norway
2018    Radii, Galleri 54, Gothenburg, Sweden
2017    Corrected Vision, Skaftfell Center for Visual Art, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
2017    Antiplanet, Studio 17, Stavanger, Norway
2016    Averted Vision, White Box Galleri, KHiO, Oslo, Norway
2015    Axis Calibration, Galleri Seilduken, KHiO, Oslo, Norway
2010    [in] between, with Emmy McIntosh, President's Gallery, MassArt, Boston, MA, USA


RECENT GROUP EXHIBITIONS + PROJECTS ︎︎︎

2025    Aura Slice, Sandefjord Kunstforening, Sandefjord, Norway
2025    Lyden av sola / The Sound of the Sun, Harestua Solar Observatory, Harestua, Norway (co-organizer)
2025    Lingering Light, Unge Kunstneres Samfund (UKS) / Young Artists’ Society, Oslo, Norway
2025    Infinity – Emptiness – Liveliness, Hamburg Planetarium, Germany
2023    ARTICA in Residence at QSPA, QSPA Bispevika, Oslo, Norway
2022    Mini-MUNCH Festival, Everyday Moons screening, MUNCH, Oslo, Norway
2022    Østlandsutstillingen, Oppland Kunstsenter, Lillehammer, Norway
2022    Østlandsutstillingen, NITJA senter for samtidskunst, Lillestrøm, Norway
2021    ÖRES 21 Summer Exhibition, Örö Island, Skärgårdshavets Nationalpark, Finland
2018    Høstutstillingen, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Norway
2018    Farfuglar, Skaftfell Center for Visual Art, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
2017    Sequences VIII: Elastic Hours, “Blikk,” Skaftfell Center for Visual Art, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
2017    Høstutstillingen i Inkognitogata, Inkognitogata 4, Oslo, Norway
2017    Here and Not, Atelier Nord ANX, Oslo, Norway, with artists Richard Alexandersson and Pete Fleming
2017    Screengrab, FKDS Studio Grant Exhibition, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Norway
2017    Seven Black Holes, Blomster & Bureau, online exhibition: blomsterogbureau.com
2016    Ora or Labora, MFA Avgangsutstilling, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Norway
2016    Forårsudstillingen, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
2015    Chambre d’Amis, Semperdepot, Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien, Vienna, Austria
2015    EXCESSIVE AND IRRATIONAL, Akademirommet, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Norway
2015    Beasts and Pets, Studio 17, Stavanger, Norway



RECENT ARTIST TALKS + PRESENTATIONS ︎︎︎

2026     (Upcoming) Invited speaker for the symposium: Drawing Lines of Connection, KHiO / Kunstnernes Hus
2025     (Upcoming) Art & Science Session, Svalbard Science Forum Conference, The Research Council of Norway
2025     Billedkunst LIVE: Ekskursjon til Solobservatoriet på Harestua, Norske Billedkunstnere (NBK)
2025     REsCENTING RELATIONS, SOLU / Bioart Society, Helsinki, Finland
2025     Arctic Design Seminar: Design Histories in Svalbard, University of Toronto
2025     Hamburg Planetarium, Hamburg, Germany
2022     Mini-MUNCH Festival, MUNCH, Oslo, Norway
2021     Artica Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Svalbard
2018     Galleri 54, Gothenburg, Sweden



RESIDENCIES ︎︎︎

2025     Harestua Solar Observatory, Harestua, Norway
2024     Kyoto Art Center, Kyoto, Japan (OCA: Office for Contemporary Art Norway)
2023     The Satellites residency, pilot program, Diskobugt, Greenland
2021     Artica Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Svalbard (OCA: Office for Contemporary Art Norway)
2019     ÖRES: Örö Island Residency Program, Skärgårdshavets Nationalpark, Finland
2019     NBK Ny-Ålesund Research Station residency, Svalbard
2018     Project Room, Atelier Nord ANX, Oslo, Norway
2017     Skaftfell Center for Visual Art, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland




GRANTS + AWARDS ︎︎︎

2025    One-year stipend, Norwegian Visual Artists Fund / Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond, NBK
2023    Two-year stipend, Norwegian Visual Artists Fund / Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond, NBK
2021    Two-year stipend for young artists, Arts Council Norway / Kulturrådet
2020    One-year stipend, Norwegian Visual Artists Fund / Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond, NBK
2020    Stipend for young artists, City of Oslo / Oslo Kommune
2019    Ny-Ålesund Research Station residency grant, Bildende Kunstneres Hjelpefond
2019    One-year stipend, Norwegian Visual Artists Fund / Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond, NBK
2018    Project Support Grant, Norwegian Visual Artists Fund / Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond, NBK
2018    One-year stipend, Norwegian Visual Artists Fund / Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond, NBK
2017    Art and Technology Grant, Arts Council Norway / Kulturrådet
2017    One-year stipend for young artists, Arts Council Norway / Kulturrådet
2017    Project Support Grant, Norwegian Visual Artists Fund / Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond, NBK
2017    Exhibtion Support Grant, Arts Council Norway / Kulturrådet
2016    Project Support Grant, Norwegian Visual Artists Fund / Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond, NBK
2016    Art Publications and Manuscript Development Grant, Arts Council Norway / Kulturrådet
2016    Kunstnernes Hus Studio Grant, Fondet for Kunst- og Designstudenter ved KHiO
2016    Stipend for Newly Graduated Artists, Arts Council Norway / Kulturrådet
2015    Development of Practice Grant, Fondet for Kunst- og Designstudenter ved KHiO
2010    Helen Blair Crosbie Sculpture Award, First Prize, MassArt
2010    Foundation Auction Award, MassArt
2009    Silver Award for Sculpture at The Boston Biennial, Atlantic Works Gallery, East Boston, MA
2009    Special Projects Grant for Public Art, MassArt



EDUCATION ︎︎︎

2017                  Arizona State University, Astronomy: Comparative Planetology
2014 - 2016     The Academy of Fine Art, Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO), MFA Fine Arts
2005 - 2010     Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), BFA Sculpture and Art History



MEMBERSHIPS ︎︎︎

2018 - Present     Visual Artists Association of Oslo and Akershus / Billedkunstnerne i Oslo og Akershus (BOA)
2017 - Present     The Planetary Society
2016 - Present     Association of Norwegian Visual Artists / Norske Billedkunstnere (NBK)