Kaja Stumpf (b. 1987, Norway) lives and works in London.

Her recent work examines memory, self-representation, and the mind-body connection. She explores the idea of selective memory and cognitive bias as a means of self-preservation, and through painting, visualises the rumination of potential scenarios between past and present.

Utilising staged images and the photographic family archive, she crops the scene and alter the colours to create a sense of delayed familiarity.

The paintings serve as a visual investigation of the narrative surrounding selective memory and unconscious bias. They navigate the fear of the unknown, the impact of outdated beliefs, and the self-destructive behaviours that hinder personal growth. 

Fragmented compositions mirror our tendency to fixate on specific elements of our lives while neglecting others. By portraying the body as a vessel of experience and offering a compassionate perspective, the paintings consider different interpretations and question the motives behind self-sabotage and why we may be reluctant to embrace happiness.

‘The work explores my reinterpreted story of experience.’

Represented by Blue Shop Gallery, London UK.