Maja Malou Lyse

Maja Malou Lyse is a multidisciplinary artist whose work delves into the complexities of identity, body image, pleasure politics, and social dynamics.

Biography of Maja Malou Lyse

Maja Malou Lyse was born in 1993. She graduated with a Master of Fine Arts from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 2022.

Her work has gained significant recognition, leading to the solo exhibition "Revenge Body" at Brandts Kunst Museum in Odense (2020). Additionally, Maja Malou Lyse has participated numerous in group shows at prestigious institutions such as Index in Stockholm, ATM Gallery in Texas, the National Gallery of Denmark in Copenhagen, Blueproject Foundation in Barcelona, Moderna Museet in Stockholm, ARoS in Aarhus, Kunsthal Charlottenborg in Copenhagen, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Roskilde.

Additionally, from 2018 to 2019, Lyse hosted a television show, “Sex med Maja,” on DR—the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. 

Maja Malou Lyse received the Audience Prize from KP15 at Aarhus Kunsthal (2015) and a grant from the Poul Erik Bech Foundation (2022).

Currently, the artist lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Maja Malou Lyse's Art Style

Maja Malou Lyse's art practice is multifaceted, exploring the complexities of identity, body image, pleasure politics, and social dynamics. She uses a variety of platforms embedded in daily life, such as magazines, television, and digital media, to highlight the deep connection between our desires and cultural-political realities. Lyse's work incorporates elements of pop culture and the visual iconography of the platforms she uses, creating informative pieces with tongue-in-cheek humor.

Inspired by satire, she employs parody and sarcasm to convey her messages. Lyse navigates the nuances of sexuality within feminist traditions, avoiding overly negative or positive stances. Instead, she delves into open-ended questions and ambiguous realities, emphasizing that there is no "one size fits all" solution to the themes she explores. Rather than providing definitive answers, Lyse encourages viewers to engage, learn, and articulate their personal experiences.

In her art, Lyse often appears both in front of and behind the camera, questioning normative processes of identification, objectification, and the aesthetics of desire. Her works prompt larger discussions about imagery and visual content in contemporary society, examining how constant visual presence influences behavior and self-perception. Through her innovative and immersive practice, Lyse sheds light on the problematics of representation politics and power dynamics within image consumption, opening up conversations about the impact of visual culture on our lives.