Per Kirkeby

Per Kirkeby, a versatile Danish artist explored the realms of painting, poetry, filmmaking, and sculpture. Rooted in his fascination with geology and the natural world, his art bore distinctive traits reflective of these interests. Regarded as a key figure in the neo-expressionist movement, Kirkeby's work epitomized bold experimentation within the realm of painting.  

Biography of Per Kirkeby

Per Kirkeby, born in 1938 in Copenhagen, Denmark, commenced his academic journey in 1957, delving into natural history at the University of Copenhagen. As a research assistant, he embarked on several expeditions to Greenland between 1958 and 1960. Transitioning to the arts, Kirkeby enrolled at the Experimental Art School in Copenhagen in 1962, paving the way for his illustrious career.

In 1964, Kirkeby earned a master's degree in Arctic geology from the University of Copenhagen. His artistic prowess gained international recognition with exhibitions at the Venice Biennale in 1976, 1980, 1993, 1997, and 2005. Notably, in 1977, he published "Fliegende Blätter" and penned a book of essays on Delacroix, Manet, and Picasso in 1988.

Kirkeby's influence extended to academia, where he served as a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, Karlsruhe, from 1978, and later at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (1978–1989) and Städelschule in Frankfurt (1989–2000). Honored as a member of the Danish Academy in 1982, Kirkeby showcased his work at Documenta in Kassel, Germany, in 1982.

Collaborating with filmmaker Lars von Trier in 1996, Kirkeby contributed as a painter for three films, lending his artistic vision to "Breaking the Waves," "Antichrist," and "Dancer in the Dark." However, a serious brain injury in 2013 halted his painting endeavors. Despite this setback, Kirkeby persevered, focusing on creating small etchings until his passing on May 9, 2018, at his residence in Hellerup.

Per Kirkeby's Art Style and Legacy

In terms of artistic style, Per Kirkeby's journey was marked by diverse influences and distinctive approaches. Initially associated with the Fluxus group and influenced by Pop art during the 1960s, Kirkeby's artistic evolution saw subsequent influences from Tachism and Abstract Expressionism.

His vibrant brushwork and chromatic allure, showcased in his mostly untitled paintings, along with the sensual modeling of his rough black bronzes, have bestowed upon him the epithet of “lyric expressionist.” His paintings, often leaning towards abstraction, contain veiled iconographic references, primarily to the Danish landscape and the female form.

Kirkeby's brick sculptures, in contrast to the ambiguity of his paintings, display an unusual clarity. Inspired by traditional Danish housing and elements of Mayan architecture, they serve as a testament to his versatility as an artist.

Today, Kirkeby's legacy endures through his works, many of which are held in prestigious collections worldwide. Institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Gallery in London, and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, Denmark, proudly exhibit his pieces, reflecting the lasting impact of his artistic vision.