From South Dakota to Brooklyn Army Terminal, the multidisciplinary artist transforms construction materials, light, and intuition into immersive worlds.

The annual ChaShaMa Open Studios at Brooklyn Army Terminal offers visitors a rare opportunity to step directly into the creative environments where artists think, experiment, and build. Among the many studios open to the public, Stephanie Norberg’s space immediately draws attention with its combination of sculpture, painting, installation, light, and architectural presence.

Norberg’s work feels less like a collection of objects and more like an invitation into an evolving conversation about space, material, and perception.

Raised in South Dakota before making New York City her home fifteen years ago, Norberg’s artistic journey has been shaped by both formal training and a lifetime of hands-on creativity. After studying sculpture at the prestigious Cranbrook Academy of Art outside Detroit, she gradually expanded her practice beyond traditional sculpture into installation art, creating works that occupy and transform entire environments.

Walking through her studio, it becomes clear that categories matter very little to her practice. Paintings coexist with sculptures. Drawings lead to installations. Materials associated with construction and architecture become tools for artistic exploration.

That connection to architecture runs deep.

Norberg grew up in a family where design and building were part of everyday life. Her father is an architect and her mother a landscape architect. Creativity was not treated as an abstract concept but as something tangible, something built with your hands.

As a child, she often accompanied her father to projects, helping with construction work when deadlines were tight. Drywalling, hammering, and assisting on job sites became normal experiences. Those early encounters with materials and the process of construction continue to shape the way she approaches art today.

Rather than relying exclusively on traditional fine art materials, Norberg often incorporates cardboard, building materials, and industrial elements into her work. The influence of architecture is visible not only in her choice of materials but also in her fascination with scale and spatial relationships.

Many artists create objects for viewers to observe. Norberg creates experiences for viewers to enter.

As her sculptures became larger over time, installation art became a natural extension of her interests. Entire rooms became part of the artwork. Visitors became participants rather than spectators.

Her installations often blur the line between sculpture and environment, inviting audiences to move through space and engage physically with the work.

What makes Norberg’s practice particularly compelling is her willingness to embrace uncertainty.

Unlike artists who meticulously plan every detail before beginning a project, she often starts with an impression, a feeling, or a loose concept. The final form emerges gradually through experimentation and discovery.

For her, intuition plays a critical role.

An installation may begin with a simple geometric shape or spatial idea, but as construction progresses, the work reveals itself. Materials suggest new directions. Unexpected solutions emerge. The finished piece often evolves beyond its original conception.

This openness to spontaneity allows her work to remain alive throughout the creative process.

Inspiration comes from everywhere.

Music, architecture, geometry, photography, and everyday observations all feed her imagination. Even seemingly ordinary moments can become catalysts for new projects.

Outside of her studio practice, Norberg works professionally in architectural and commercial photography. Construction sites and evolving spaces regularly become sources of inspiration. A pile of discarded materials, exposed framing, unfinished drywall, or temporary construction arrangements can spark entirely new artistic ideas.

The challenge, she explains, is rarely finding inspiration.

The challenge is finding enough time to bring all those ideas into reality.

Despite balancing a full-time professional career, her artistic practice continues to expand into new territory. One of her current areas of exploration involves kinetic sculpture, introducing movement into works that already incorporate light, sound, and immersive spatial experiences.

The addition of motion represents another step in her ongoing investigation of how viewers engage with artwork physically and emotionally.

Norberg is also open to commissions and collaborative projects. Among her commissioned works are illuminated “light boxes”—wall-mounted sculptural pieces that combine drawing, woodworking, and backlit illumination. These works extend her interest in architecture and light while offering collectors an intimate version of the immersive experiences found throughout her larger installations.

At ChaShaMa Open Studios, visitors were given more than a glimpse into an artist’s workspace. They were offered insight into a creative philosophy built on curiosity, experimentation, and a willingness to let ideas evolve naturally.

Stephanie Norberg’s work reminds us that art is not always about arriving at a predetermined destination. Sometimes it is about creating space for discovery.

In a city constantly under construction, her practice transforms the language of building into something poetic, immersive, and deeply human.

To learn more about Stephanie Norberg’s work, visit www.stephanorberg.com and follow her on Instagram @stephaniednorberg. 

About Tarik Talk Podcast 

Tarik Talk is an international arts and culture podcast hosted by artist Tarik Mendes. With more than 200 episodes across 50 seasons, the podcast features conversations with artists, curators, museum professionals, creative entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders from around the world.