Bjorn Blakstad is a curator working with artist archives, large scale contemporary installation, and queer, familial and institutional heritage.

Bjorn is a First Class graduate of the Glasgow School of Arts (GSA) Painting and Printmaking program, a current Masters student of Curatorial Practice in Contemporary Art (CPCA) at GSA, a member of the GSA Archives and Collections Advisory Group (ACAG), and an independent curator and archival researcher working with The Arc, Winchester and OurStory Scotland.

His research explores archival, collection and history making impulses in contemporary arts and queer communities, which reflects in his multiple curatorial projects involving family archives, artist collections and cultural ephemera.

Currently he is organising an anthology publication of artists collections titled Collections of Collections alongside an accompanying panel event scheduled for July.

Bjorns most recent work includes an internship placement at Tramway, Glasgow in partnership with CPCA, GSA; during which time he lead production of inventory, installation and production documentation, both visual and technical, for the Rae-Yen Song 宋瑞渊 exhibition •~TUA~• 大眼 •~MAK~• (10.25- 08.26), and archival research and collation of materials relating to Section 28, HIV and AIDs awareness campaigns across Scotland for display alongside the UK AIDs Quilt (09.26).

Additionally he has been working remotely with The Arc Winchester since 2023 to curate an exhibition (10.26 - 02.27), of his late grandmother, Tricia Blakstads, archive. This will be a complementary exhibition in City Space at The Arc, alongside Ray Harryhausen: Myths in Motion (09.26 - 02.27); an immense retrospective of the material processes and collected works of the famed animator.

Outside of his curatorial work, Bjorn works in the GSA Library and contributes to workshop planning, designing and cataloguing book displays and student experience improvements, and curates internal events and exhibitions within the library.

Prior to studying at the GSA Bjorn had an early career as a project manager for a humanitarian financial technology company Hiveonline ApS, and enjoyed may years in the service industry, most notably spending two and a half years happily behind the bar, designing merch and in the box office of Stereo CIC in Glasgow city centre, a historic venue for music, club nights and art school events.

He also occasionally plays DnD, when time allows.

Education

MLitt Curatorial Practice in Contemporary Art
Glasgow School of Art
25/26

BA (Hons) Painting & Printmaking First Class
Glasgow School of Art
22/25

HND Contemporary Art Practice
Glasgow Clyde College
20/22

Diplôme de Pâtisserie
Le Cordon Bleu
/14

EXPERIENCE

GSA Archives and Collections Advisory Group
Glasgow School of Art
26/29

Exhibitions Intern
Tramway/GSA, Glasgow
25/26

Library User Support Assistant
Glasgow School of Art
25/NOW

Volunteer Archival Assistant
OurStory Scotland
24 /NOW

Curatorial Coordinator
The Arc, Winchester
23/NOW

DESIGN COMMISIONS

Merchandise Design - Stereo CIC, Glasgow /24

Merchandise Design - Man of Moon /23

Event Design - Refocus: Women in History CCA /20

OTHER

Front of House Member - Stereo CIC 23/25

Illustrator & Launch Coordinator - Erebus Society 20/21

Project Manager - hiveonline ApS 18/19

KEY EXHIBITIONS

Ballroom of Memory
Glasgow School of Art
/25

“The Archive”
Glasgow School of Art
/ 25

Secret Perverts (Exhibitor)
Glasgow School of Art
/ 24

Common Threads
Glasgow School of Art
/ 24

EMERGING
New Glasgow Society
/ 22