Stephanie Backes

Stephanie Backes is a painting conservator (NKF-N) and has been employed at NIKU’s Trondheim office since April 2025. She studied conservation at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HAWK) in Hildesheim, Germany. In autumn 2025, she completed the part-time study programme Emergency Preparedness for Art and Cultural Heritage at the University of Oslo (UiO).

Backes has specialized experience in the conservation and analysis of painted surfaces, including canvas paintings, panel paintings (wood, metal, and other supports), polychrome sculptures and altarpieces. At NIKU, she primarily works with condition assessments, as well as professional consultation related to preventive conservation and conservation projects. In addition, she has a particular focus on emergency preparedness for art and cultural heritage, including risk and vulnerability assessments, value assessments, and the development of salvage plans for cultural heritage collections.

In Norway, Backes has previously worked for organizations including Nordland County Municipality and the Nordland Museum Foundation, as well as being a painting conservator and managing director in her own company.

From 2022 to 2026, Backes was a board member of the Norwegian Association of Conservators (NKF-N). She has been a board member of ICOMOS Norway since 2023.