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
1961–1965 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, USA
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, USA
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, USA
Galerie Carla Koch, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2002 Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
Galerie Carla Koch, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2001 Garth Clark Gallery, New York, USA
2000 Galerie Carla Koch, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Galerie Nørby, Copenhagen, Denmark
1998 Galerie Besson, London
Garth Clark Gallery, New York, USA
Galerie Carla Koch, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1995 Nederlands Keramiekmuseum, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
Garth Clark Gallery, New York, USA
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, Germany2023 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, USA
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, USA
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, USA
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, Philadelphia, USA
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, Oaklahoma, USA
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, Honourable mention
The 7th International Ceramic Competition, Mino, Japan, Honourable
mention
2003 Knud V. Engelhardt’s Memorial Grant
The 2nd World Ceramic Biennial, Korea, Jury’s prize
Bavarian State Prize, Germany
2001-2 Anna Klindt Soerensen’s 2 years grant
2001 The 6th International Ceramic Competition, Mino, Japan, Honourable
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
1994-5 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
