Lars Fletre: Resistance, Resilience, Artistry Exhibit Closes

Lars Fletre was a Norwegian-American artist known for his work in sculpture, woodcarving, painting, and glass art. Born in Voss, Norway, in 1904, he immigrated to Chicago in 1923, where he studied at the Chicago Painting School and The Art Institute of Chicago. The Great Depression deeply influenced his early work, including Labor, a mahogany sculpture depicting an African-American laborer, and Nattelogi, a linocut showing homelessness in urban Chicago.

In 1934, Fletre moved to Oslo with his wife, Swedish author Helen Svensson. There, he expanded into glassblowing and etching, producing decorative and sculptural works. The family returned to Chicago in 1954, where he founded Voss Art Studio and remained active until his death in 1977 during a visit to Oslo.

As Fletre went back and forth between Chicago and Norway, he established studios and businesses and left behind an artistic legacy of remarkable range: glass, wood, stone, metal, paintings, and prints, including works for shows, private commissions, and public monuments. Fletre’s art reflects themes of migration, labor, and social realism, blending Norwegian tradition with American experience. His legacy endures through a diverse body of work rooted in empathy and craftsmanship.

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This exhibit at Vesterheim is supported by a generous gift to the annual fund from Rob and Evy Alsaker, and Robert and Elizabeth Norheim.