Sanna Charles: Exploring Community, Creativity and Human Connection
Introduction to Case
London born visual artist, photographer, filmmaker, musician, and educator Sanna Charles uses creativity as a way of understanding people, places, and belonging. Now based in Norway, her multidisciplinary practice explores themes of community, identity, music, and connection, often blurring the boundaries between documentary observation and personal storytelling.
Artistic Practice
Creating Through Community
Sanna’s work spans photography, film, collage, painting, and music, often developed through collaboration with others. At the heart of her practice is an ongoing exploration of what it means to be part of something larger than oneself. Music plays a significant role throughout her work, serving both as a source of inspiration and as a way of connecting with people and shared experiences.
Creative Perspective
Finding Joy in the Process
Following a period of creative recovery and reflection, Sanna has embraced a more playful and intuitive approach to making work. Rather than focusing on outcomes, her practice centers on curiosity, experimentation, and the simple joy of creating. Through photography and moving image, she seeks to communicate experiences that resonate emotionally, allowing audiences to find their own meanings within the work.
Our Approach
COLLECTIVE OSLO featured Sanna Charles as part of its artist platform, highlighting creatives whose practices contribute to contemporary conversations around culture, identity, and community. Her work reflects COLLECTIVE’s commitment to supporting interdisciplinary artists who use creativity as a tool for dialogue, reflection, and connection.
By combining artistic practice with education and community engagement, Sanna demonstrates how creativity can foster understanding across different perspectives and experiences. Her work reminds us that art is not only about individual expression, but also about building relationships and creating spaces where people can connect through shared stories.
Artist Perspective
"At its core my work is about community and what it means to be part of something bigger than ourselves."
"The process of creating something out of nothing is very satisfying. These days the drive is survival, joy, and finding meaning through creativity."
"Art is a language that speaks to our hearts rather than our heads, and this is needed now more than ever."
"To continue living a creative life, learning, challenging myself, and being part of something bigger than myself."
Artist Information
ARTIST
Sanna Charles
LOCATION
Klokkarstua, Norway
CATEGORY
Photography
Visual Arts
Film
DISCIPLINES
Photography
Filmmaking
Collage
Painting
Music
FOCUS AREAS
Community & Belonging
Identity & Culture
Youth & Education
Contemporary Visual Storytelling
COLLABORATION
Artist Feature
Creative Community
Interdisciplinary Arts
COLLECTIVE OSLO