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)