Bodil Manz (Danish, b. 1943) is a ceramicist known for her predominant use of ultra-thin, translucent eggshell porcelain to create distinctive cylindrical forms, anchored by bold, geometric abstractions in a style evocative of Russian Suprematism. Much in the way Morandi approached a still life or Albers the square, her engagement with the cylinder form ad infinitum is a study in the master’s ability to extract sublime nuance from the seemingly quotidian. In her own words, “Focusing and concentrating on a single object such as a sphere, a square, a cylinder, a cup, fundamentally something quite ordinary, the stuff of everyday life, [seems] indeed almost banal. But during the process we discovered fresh aspects, and suddenly ‘the ordinary’ became a new experience."
Manz studied ceramics at the School of Arts and Craft in Copenhagen. In 1966, she studied at La Escuela de Diseño y Artesanías in Mexico City and at the University of California Berkeley. Her work is included in numerous prestigious collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Musée de Sèvres, and the Museum of Modern Ceramic Art in Gifu, Japan.
BODIL MANZ
b. 1943, Copenhagen, Denmark
EDUCATION
1961–65
Arts and Crafts School, Copenhagen
1966
Escuela de Diseño y Artesanias, Mexico City, Mexico
Art Department, Berkeley University, California
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
Bodil Manz, Galerie Ligne Treize, 18th International Biennial of Contemporary Ceramics, Carouge, Switzerland
Thin as Paper, Galerie Møller Witt, Copenhagen, Denmark
2023
Bodil Manz, Gallery LSV, Seoul, South Korea
2021
Bodil Manz: New Work, Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
2019
Bodil Manz, Oxford Ceramics Gallery, Oxford, United Kingdom
BODIL MANZ, Gallery LVS, Seoul, South Korea
2017
Bodil Manz, Oxford Ceramics Gallery, Oxford, United Kingdom
2012
Galleri Weinberger, Copenhagen, Denmark
2011
Galleri Pagter, Kolding, Denmark
2008
Danish Museum of Art and Design, Copenhagen, Denmark
2006
Galerie Pierre, Paris, France
Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland
Garth Clark Gallery, New York, NY
2005
Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
Galerie Besson, London
2004
Galerie Nørby, Copenhagen, Denmark
2003
Galerie b 15, Munich, Germany
Garth Clark Gallery, New York, NY
Galerie Carla Koch, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2002
Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
Galerie Carla Koch, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2001
Garth Clark Gallery, New York, NY
2000
Galerie Carla Koch, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Galerie Nørby, Copenhagen, Denmark
1998
Galerie Besson, London
Garth Clark Gallery, New York, NY
Galerie Carla Koch, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1995
Nederlands Keramiekmuseum, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
Garth Clark Gallery, New York, NY
1984
Lidköpings Konstall, Lidköping, Sweden
Facet, Bing & Grøndahl, Copenhagen
1971
Maison du Danemark, Paris, France
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024–25
Fifteenth Westerwald Prize Exhibition, The Keramikmuseum Westerwald, Höhr-Grenzhausen, Germany
2023
Artwork Orange, Galleri Weinberger Schandorff, Copenhagen, Denmark
2022
One of a Kind: LOEWE Craft Prize Winner & Finalists, Gallery LVS, Seoul, South Korea
Taste Contemporary - Gallery Selection, Taste Contemporary, Geneva, Switzerland
2021
Pioneering Women, Oxford Ceramics Galler, Oxford, United Kingdom
2019
Vessels & Weaves, Berg Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
2016
Lacoste Gallery Collection, Lucy Lacoste Gallery, Concord, MA
2014
Adrian Sassoon, COLLECT, Saatchi Gallery, London, United Kingdom
2013
Adrian Sassoon, COLLECT, Saatchi Gallery, London, United Kingdom
2012
Adrian Sassoon, Masterpiece London, The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, United Kingdom
Clare Beck at Adrian Sassoon, COLLECT, Saatchi Gallery, London, United Kingdom
Cuts and Interventions, Copenhagen Ceramics, Frederiksberg, Denmark
2011
Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
Garth Clark, SOFA Fair, Sante Fe, CA
2010
Gudjhem Museum, Bornholm, Denmark
Galerie Helen Poiree, Paris, France
Carla Koch, PAN Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2009
Keramiske Veje, Sophienholm, Copenhagen, Denmark
2008
Design Museum, Denmark
A View From Denmark, Lucy Lacoste Gallery, Concord, MA
2007
The 4th World Ceramic Biennale, South Korea
Ceramics from Denmark, Bayerischer Kunstgewerbe-Verein, Munich, Germany
Transparenz und Masse, Museum Eckernf örde, Germany
2005
Transformations: The Language of Crafts, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
The 7th International Ceramics Competition, Mino, Japan
The 3rd World Ceramic Biennale, South Korea
Biennale Européenne de Céramique Contemporaine, Troyes, France
2004
4th Ceramic Triennial, Trapholt, Denmark
Keramiske Veje, Den Frie, Copenhagen, Denmark
Galerie Pierre, Paris, France
Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Japan
From the Kilns of Denmark, touring USA
2003
The International Invitational Exhibition, Korea
Crafts Now, Kanazawa, Japan
Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu, Japan
2nd World Ceramic Biennale, Korea
2002
Galerie Pagter, Kolding, Denmark
From the Kilns of Denmark, touring Paris, Berlin & USA
Campio-Masterpieces, Palazzo Bricherasio, Turin, Italy
The Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, Toronto, Canada
Biennale de la Céramique, Andenne, Belgium
The 6th International Ceramics Competition, Mino, Japan
2001
Galerie le Vieux-Bourg, Switzerland
Sigtuna Museum, Sigtuna, Sweden
Poetics of Clay, Philadelphia Art Alliance, PA
Pakhuset, Nykøbing, Denmark
2000
The Danish Wave, China
Form and Glasur, Hoechst, Germany
The Sixth Taiwan Golden Ceramic Award Exhibition, Taiwan
1999
Living Design – Dialogue, touring Klaipeda, Riga, Tallin
(UN) Limited, Craft Council, London
Artist from the World, Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche, Faenza, Italy
Form-Transformation 1966-99, Kunst Industri Museet, Copenhagen, Denmark
Keramik aus Dänemark, Galerie Handwerk, Munich, Germany
1998
Triennale de Porcelaine, Nyon, Switzerland
Galerie für Englische Keramik, Marianne Heller, Germany
Sybaris Gallery, Oklahoma City, OK
1997
Museum voor Sierkunst, Gent, Belgium
1996
Yufuku Gallery of Fine Arts, Tokyo, Japan
Bewegung Europäische Keramik 96, Keramion, Germany
Form und Glasur, Hoechst, Tyskland, Denmark
Das Andere Gefäss, Saarländisches Künstlerhaus, Saarbrücken, Denmark
1995
Edinburgh City Art Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland
Gallery Nørby, Copenhagen, Denmark
1994
1st Ceramic Triennial, Trapholt, Denmark
Tapei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
1993
Keramik Europas, Keramikmuseum, Westerwald, Germany
1992
Kunstindustrimuseet, Helsinki, Finland
Triennale de Porcelaine, Nyon, Switzerland
1991
Museum Het Princessehof, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
1990
Gallery Amphora & Singer Museum, Oosterbeek, The Netherlands
1989
Scandinavian Ceramics and Glass, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Röhsska Museet, Gothenberg, Sweden
1987
Boymans van Beuningen Stichtung Museum, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
The Seibu Art Forum, Tokyo, Japan
1981
Museum of Art, Pennsylvania State University, USA
1980
Galerie de Proen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1977
The Danish Museum of Decorative Art, Copenhagen
1970
Städtlisches Museum, Wiesbaden, Germany
1969
Den Permanente, Copenhagen, Denmark
1966
Mexico City, Mexico
AWARDS
2024
Shortlist, 15th Westerwald Prize, The Keramikmuseum Westerwald, Höhr-Grenzhausen, Germany
2006
The 4th World Ceramic Biennial, Korea, Grand Prize
2005
The 3rd World Ceramic Biennial, Korea, honorable mention
The 7th International Ceramic Competition, Mino, Japan, honorable mention
2003
Knud V. Engelhardt’s Memorial Grant
The 2nd World Ceramic Biennial, Korea, Jury’s prize
Bavarian State Prize, Germany
2001-02
Anna Klindt Soerensen’s 2 years grant
2001
The 6th International Ceramic Competition, Mino, Japan, honorable mention
The 1st World Ceramic Biennial, Korea, Special prize
The Thorval Bindesboell Medal
2000
C.L. David’s Fund
Carl Jacobsen’s Travel Grant, The New Carlsberg Foundation
1998
The Life Long Grant of the Danish Government
The 5th International Ceramic Competition, Mino, Japan, Gold Medal
1997
Ellen and Knud Dahlhoff Larsen’s Foundation
Merchant L.F. Foght’s Foundation Kutani International Decorative
Ceramic Competition Award of Merit, Japan
5th World Triennial Exhibition of Small Ceramics, Zagreb, Krapina prize
1994-05
The Danish Arts Foundation, 3 year grant
1993
4th World Triennial Exhibition of Small Ceramics, Zagreb,
Grand Prix Arts, Crafts and Design Council’s Annual prize
Johan S. Kroeir’s Foundation
Silversmith Kay Bojesen and Mrs. Erna Bojesen Memorial Grant
1985
Ole Haslund’s Artist Grant
1978
Ole Haslund’s Artist Grant
1972
The Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory, Jubilee Competition, 2nd prize
1969
Den Permanente, Ceramic Competition, 1st prize
The Cowi Foundation
Handelsbanken Jubilee Grant
1968
The Danish National Bank’s Jubilee Foundation
K.A. Larssens and Mrs. L.M. Larssen’s Grant
Manufacturer and Mrs. Svend Aage Rasmussen’s Memorial Grant
Painting Contractor Achen’s Grant
The Danish Arts Foundation
SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
The Danish Museum of Art & Design, Copenhagen, Denmark
The Danish Arts Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
The New Carlsberg Foundation, Denmark
The Trapholt Museum of Danish Visual Art, Arts & Crafts & Furniture Design, Kolding, Denmark
Röhsska Konstslöjdmuseet, Gothenberg, Sweden
Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, Sweden
Musée de Sèvres, France
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, France
Kunstindustrimuseet, Helsinki, Finland
Neue Pinakothek, Munich, Germany
Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany
Sammlung Rudolf Strasser, Museum der Stadt, Landshut, Germany
Keramikmuseum Westerwald, Höhr-Grenzjausen, Germany
Museum Keramion, Frechen, Germany
Museum Boijmans-van Beuningen, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Museum Het Princessehof, Leewarden, The Netherlands
The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel
Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Montreal, Canada
The Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, Toronto, Canada
Palmer Museum of Art, University Park, PA
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Houston, TX
Everson Museum, Syracuse, NY
The Newark Museum, Newark, NJ
Mint Museum of Craft and Design, Charlotte, NC
Spencer Museum, Lawrence, KS
Hallmark Collection, Kansas City, MO
Detroit Institute of Art, Michigan, USA
The Museum of Ceramic Art, Gifu, Japan
World Craft Forum, Tokyo, Japan
Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taiwan
