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Photos by Anna Stokland.
The 2026 award of the annual Talent Award by Steen & Strøm goes to Lars Math Henrichsen, KHiO (Oslo National Academy of the Arts) graduate.
Henrichsen has been selected for his collection demonstrating an unusually strong and coherent creative vision. Drawing on McKenzie Wark's A Hacker Manifesto, gaming culture, punk and military references, Henrichsen builds a distinctive universe that feels both intellectually considered and deeply personal. From his father's old buckles to 3D knitwear and the deliberate appropriation and reinterpretation of existing design codes, every reference contributes to a larger narrative. Nothing feels incidental.
– Lars has a very rare ability to take references that could easily become niche or overly conceptual and turn them into a universe you immediately want to know more about. There's intelligence, humour and a real sense of conviction in his work, but what excites me most is how distinctly his own it already feels. That kind of clarity of voice is unusual at such an early stage, and I'm very curious to see where he takes it next, shares Sunniva Hartgen, Head of Fashion, Oslo Runway
As the winner of the Talent Award by Steen & Strøm 2026, Lars Math Henrichsen will get a designer residency at Dale of Norway.
The jury was particularly impressed by Henrichsen's ability to translate theory and subculture into something physical and compelling. His ambition to take gaming culture, a world that is often overlooked or dismissed, out of the digital realm and into nature and everyday life gives the collection an unexpected perspective. There are humor and provocation in the work, but also genuine curiosity and conviction.
Kaia Kongsli, Jury Leader and Head of Marketing at Steen & Strøm, shares:
– What impressed me most was how clearly Lars has already established his own voice. He brings together subcultural references, theory and an almost uncompromisingly nerdy curiosity in a way that feels both authentic and highly relevant. This is not just a strong collection, but the beginning of a universe and an identity that is distinctly his own. He left the jury genuinely curious to see what comes next – and to me, that is one of the strongest signs of an exceptional design talent.
The jury explains further:
While concept and storytelling are at the heart of his practice, the collection is highly resolved in its execution. The precision of the styling, composition, material choices and use of different techniques create a cinematic and visually powerful body of work, with an avant-garde expression that still contains pieces with clear commercial potential.Henrichsen's combination of intellectual curiosity, subcultural references and unapologetic "nerdiness" feels authentic rather than constructed and gives his work a voice that is distinctly his own – with significant potential to develop this universe further and is excited to see how his practice evolves. He has given us a convincing glimpse of what that future could look like and left us wanting to see more.
Get to know the Talent Award by Steen & Strøm in 8 easy poinst here.
