Visual Artist
Artist Statement – Hanne Nielsen Kjærsgaard
I am a storyteller and a figurative painter. However, it is not the narrative with a clear plot that interests me, but rather the frozen moment that the viewer encounters without context – what happened before and what comes after remains uncertain.
In my work, I explore the relationship between humans and nature – our urge to idealize and control it, to place ourselves above it, and at the same time to seek connection with it through fables and myths.
Light plays a central role in my work and serves as a way of building atmosphere. Sometimes the source of light is obvious, such as the moon, the sun, or an artificial light. At other times, the light emerges through repeated, thin layers of paint that bring out the full luminosity of the colors.
My aim is to create images that continue to open to new interpretations, even when they may initially appear simple. For me, it is essential that not only the subject matter, but also the way the paint is applied and the choice of colors, contribute to making the narratives ambiguous.
CV
Hanne Nielsen Kjærsgaard
Lives and work in Copenhagen, DK
Education:
2015-2018 BFA (hons) Slade School of Fine Art – UCL, London, UK 2013-2015 Kunstskolen Spektrum, Cph. DK
2004-2006 Heatherleys School of Fine Art, Portræt, London, UK
1984-1988 BA, The Royal Academy of Architecture, Design Design and Restoration, Cph. DK
Upcoming Exhibitions:
2026 ”Soria Moria”, Solo Exhibition, Vedholmen Galleri, Bergen, NO 2026 ”Volta”, represented by Davis Gallery, Basel, CH
Selected Solo Exhibitions:
2024 ”Deceiving Waters”, Solo Exhibition, Davis Gallery, Cph, DK 2022 ”Before Chaos”, The House in Asnæs, DK
2021 ”Eye of the Beholder” The Ex-Room, Cph. DK
Selected Group Exhibitions (the last ten years):
2026 ”Art Herning”, represented by Davis Gallery, Cph., DK 2025 ” Winter Exhibition”, at Davis Gallery, Cph. DK
2025 ”Staged”, SAK Exhibition Building in Svendborg, DK 2025 ”Art Vilnius”, represented by Davis Gallery, Vilnius, LT 2025 ”Summer Exhibition”, at Davis Gallery, Cph. DK
2025 “KunstRai”, represented by Davis Gallery, Amsterdam, NL 2025 ”Art Herning”, represented by Davis Gallery, Cph., DK 2024 ” Winter Exhibition”, at Davis Gallery, Cph. DK
2024 ”Art Vilnius”, represented by Davis Gallery, Vilnius, LT
2024 ”Getaway – the emergency exit fromt reality” Gallery Underkant, Cph. DK 2024 ”Summer Exhibition”, at Davis Gallery, Cph. DK
2024 “KunstRai”, represented by Davis Gallery, Amstedam, NL 2024 ”Art Herning”, represented by Davis Gallery, Cph., DK 2023 ”Spor”, Winter Exhibition at Davis Gallery, Cph., DK
2023 ”Pretty/Awful”, Galleri CPH Art, Cph., DK
2023 ”Absurd nature”, Frederikshavn Museum of Art, DK 2021 ”Baroque” The Old Rectory, Birkerød, DK
2020 ”Relay”, Annaborg, Hillerød, DK
2020 ”Mirror”, The Pakhus Gallery, Nykøbing Sjælland, DK
2020 ”Wrapped up – Unfold”, The Cobra Room, by Sophienholm, Lyngby, DK 2020 ”Echo”, Gjethuset, Frederiksværk, DK
2019 ”Fragments of Space and Time”, Missisipi, Thyholm, DK 2019 ”Under Cover – Plastik”, The Ex-Room, Cph. DK
2019 ”Bridge”, PMQ gallery, Stauton, HK 2018 ”Bridge”, Hyatt Regency, Sochi, RUS 2018 [ree-fleks], The Art Warehouse, Ikast, DK 2018 ”The BA show 2018”, Slade, London, UK 2018 ”Bridge”, IZO Gallery, Moscow, RUS 2017 ”Isolation”, Chalton Gallery, London, UK, 2017 ”Olio”, Crypt Gallery, London, UK
2016 ”Pitch the Glitch”, Galleri North, Cph. DK
Grants and Awards:
2025 ”The Knud Højgaard Fund”, for the exhibition ”Staged”
2024 ”The Grosserer L. F. Foght’s Fund” for the exhibition ”Getaway – the emergency exit from reality” 2024 ”The Grosserer L. F. Foght’s Fund” for the exhibition ”Getaway – the emergency exit from reality” 2020 ”The Grosserer L. F. Foght’s Fund” for the exhibition ”Mirror”
2018 ”The Grosserer L. F. Foght’s Fund” for the exhibition [ree-fleks]
2014 ”Artist of the Year 2014” KS, Janus – The Art Museum Vestjylland, Thistrup, DK
2006 ”The Society of Women Artists’s Presidents Choice Award”, Mall Galleries, London, UK 2014 ”Heatherleys Portrait Painting Prize”, Heaterleys, London, UK
Other:
2025 Co-curator på ”Staged”, Svendborg, DK
2024 Co-curator på ”Getaway – the emergency exit from reality”, Kbh. DK 2020 Co-curator på ”Mirror”, Nykøbing Sjælland DK
2020 Co-curator på ”Echo”, Gjethuset, Frederiksværk, DK 2018 Co-curator å [ree-fleks], Kunstpakhuset, Ikast, DK 2018 Member of BKF – The Visual Artists’ Association 2017 Curator at the exhibition OLIO, London, UK
