ARTIST INFORMATION
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Background
Nadia Ørneborg (b.1988) is a Danish artist working and living in Copenhagen.
She earned a Bachelor of Computer Graphics Art from The Animation Workshop, Viborg in 2017 and has training in classical drawing from the Drawing Academy in Viborg, 2012.
She worked as a Digital Painter, Location Designer and Art Director in the animation industry until September 4th 2020 when she was hit by a taxi.
Nadia sustained a severe concussion and a whiplash leaving her with violent chronic pain and numerous other invisible disabilities. She was told repeatedly that her pursuits to recover were impossible - to give up and just accept her circumstances. Until 4 years later, when she got the specialised care she so desperately needed in the USA.
The Danish health care system doesn’t offer treatment to concussion patients and without medical help her life rapidly fell apart. The 4 years that followed became an increasingly desperate battle to find a way to recover as well as maintaining hope in an otherwise hopeless situation.
In the darkest moments she escaped into her imagination, seeing clearly what truly mattered to her - being able to paint, genuine connection to other people and finding a level of physical health that would allow her her freedom back.
Artistic Expression
Nadia's sudden physical limitations informed both a new reality and the need for a new artistic expression.
She moved away from figurative, digital art and embraced abstraction. Needing to prioritise availability due to her health, she slowly converted half her living room into a studio space.
Little by little she started exploring. However, painting on smaller canvases felt more and more restricting.
Accepting the overpowering need to use her whole body when creating, she began working on canvas laid out on the floor following the examples of contemporary artists Helen Frankenthaler and Mariana Oushiro.
This decision made something unspoken but very heartfelt click into place.
Nadia has always been drawn to stories and projects that challenges our collective world view - either through emotional states that is turned upside down over time and/or through the many untold female stories that exist.
But where she used to tell other people’s stories she is now basing her work on her own personal experiences - exploring ways to express the enormous emotional ups and downs she has faced since her accident.
Tapping into her love of movement, texture and colour she creates large, unplanned abstract works of art.
She is inspired by Precisionism, Cubism and the plethora of incredible artists she knows from the animation industry as well as artists from the contemporary art scene.
In late October 2024, Nadia was able to travel to the USA to receive specialised care. She has been recovering ever since and is now able to paint regularly again.
She has begun piecing a new life back together, starting with her first exhibition “Beginning Again” (Genstart) September 5th 2025, marking the 5th year anniversary of the accident that changed her life.
EXHIBITION HISTORY
2025
“BEGINNING AGAIN” (GENSTART). 05.09 - 03.10 2025.
Nadia’s first solo exhibition as well as her first step back into the world after years of debilitating injury. Held at Gallery Ørn in Copenhagen.
DEAREST ACHIEVEMENTS FROM NADIA’S TIME IN ANIMATION
2016-2020
2016
WORKING ON OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILM LATE AFTERNOON.
Nadia did Background and Prop Design for the film.
Late Afternoon is an Oscar nominated Irish short film. It is a beautiful piece about the elderly lady Emily who suffers from dementia. To this day, the film still leaves Nadia in tears every time she watches it.
Directed by Louise Bagnall.
ART DIRECTING HER GRADUATION FILM NACHTHEXEN.
Released in January 2017, Nachthexen has screened at more than 20 festivals and won 3 awards; The Super 8000 Rethink Award, Monstra’s Youth Jury Award, and The One-Reeler Short Film Competition Special Merit Award.
Nachthexen was also selected for Shelley Page’s Eye Candy 2017 and Vimeo Staff Picked.
Directed by Julie Baltzer and created by a core team of 7 people.
2018
2019
WORKING WITH 5 TIME OSCAR NOMINATED ANIMATION STUDIO CARTOON SALOON.
Cartoon Saloon is Nadia´s favourite studio, located in Kilkenny, Ireland.
Known for films like Julian, Wolfwalkers, The Breadwinner, Song of the Sea and Secret Of Kells. The studio continues to push the boundaries of stylised 2D animation, making not just films but visual works of artistry.
2018
2020
ART DIRECTING THE PROJECT WOMEN IN WAR.
Based off of the design for Nachthexen, Women In War focuses on telling the largely unknown stories of women freedom fighters during WW2. The project received 60.000 euro in initial funding from Creative Europe in 2020.
The project is currently paused.
Directors: Julie Baltzer and Michael Hegner. Producer: Irene Sparre from Sparre Production.
OTHER ANIMATED SHOWS AND FILMS NADIA HAS WORKED ON
MY FATHERS DRAGON, PETE THE CAT, LEGO NINJAGO, BUG DIARIES, DORG VAN DANGO, THE SNAP HUNT.
EDUCATION
Bachelor in Computer Graphics Art - The Animation Workshop. (2013-2017)
The Drawing Academy - 6 months semester course in classical drawing. (2012-2012)
Profession Degree in Multimedia Design - Copenhagen School of Design and Technology. (2010-2012)