This year's festival artist is Kristine Sandøy

The tradition of having a festival artist goes back many years, and among previous artists, we find names like Kjell Erik Killi Olsen, Arne Nøst, Christine Istad, and Camilla Wærenskiold. In recent years, it has been important for the festival that the artists have a local connection, something both Sandra Blikås and Bendik Kaltenborn have had.

Kristine Sandøy was born and raised in Vigra outside Ålesund, but now lives and works in Oslo. She is educated at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts, and a significant part of her artistic practice involves art in public spaces.

"I work within a modernist tradition with mobile forms where the elasticity of metal, balance, and gravity are used to create movement in sculpture. My sculptures are about creating justice, joy of life, fascination for gravity, and the magic of creativity" says Kristine Sandøy about her art form.

"Kristine was chosen as this year's festival artist because of her open expression, and of course, her local connection" says Endre Volden, managing director of Moldejazz. He further states that she represents an art expression that is in line with the music. It's improvisational and playful. In addition, the audience can interpret the art expression in their own way, he adds.

Today, the Møre and Romsdal Art Center has opened an exhibition that explores a piece of festival history and showcases a couple of Kristine Sandøy's sculptures.