Mary Ailonieida Sombán Mari is a Sámi author, playwright, and visual artist. Mary Ailonieida Sombán Mari has made significant contributions to Sámi literature, beginning with her debut in 1976 with Ámmul ja alit oarbmælli (Ámmul and the Blue Cousin), the first children’s book published in Sámi. Her creative journey has earned her nominations for both the Nordic Council Literature Prize and the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize.nominations are as follows : uhca cerbmen Bizi,girdin pilota, Davvi Girji nomination year 2016, Children of the Sun / Living among reptiles Mondo books 2023, Arvedavgerikii, Davvi Girji 2023,. She recived the Grafill award for -the most beautiful book of the year in 2022, for Solens barn / Leve blandt reptiler, she recived the prize of Norwegian children and youths litteratary award in 2023 and is nominated for the Astrid Lindgren price in 2025. She was early on concerned with the global Indigenous perspective and lived for several years among Indigenous peoples in North America. Sombán Mari was one of the initiators in founding the Sámi Writers’ Association in 1979.
Mary Ailonieida Sombán Mari delves into the ancient Sámi beliefs and the deep cultural reverence for the sun. Her work celebrates the life-giving force of the sun, the spiritual aspects of Sámi culture, and reflects on the broader history and ongoing struggles of Sámi people in the face of colonization, cultural erasure, and the politics of identity.
Mary Ailonieida Sombán Mari’s art, much like her literary works, carries both a strong social message and a profound connection to the natural and spiritual realms. Through this exhibition, she invites viewers into a visual dialogue on the intersections of Sámi traditions, resilience, and modernity, while celebrating the beauty and strength of her culture.
Her artworks has been presented in Bergen Kunsthall 2020, Tromsoe kunstforening 2024
Venezia biennale 2023, Oslo kunstnerforbund 2024, ArkDes Stockholm 2024-2025
Her bold imagery and expressive use of color create a powerful visual narrative, one that speaks not only to the past but also to the present and future of Sámi identity. This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to engage with the art of an Indigenous storyteller who blends poetry, activism, and visual art into a cohesive and deeply resonant body of work.
The guest contributors:
Joar Nango
Tanya Busse
Lene E. Westerås
Silja Somby
Sara Bigga Somby Wali
Sissel Horndal
