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Biography

Steen Ipsen - Artists + Designers - Hostler Burrows

Steen Ipsen (Danish, b. 1966) is a ceramic artist living and working in Copenhagen, Denmark. Throughout his career he has explored and experimented with a myriad of themes with an emphasis on form and composition as well as spatial context. Primarily employing hand built circular, elliptical and biomorphic shapes, Ipsen’s work reveals a methodical approach combined with a dynamic chaos that is both complex and refined in structure. The sculptures comprised circular or elliptical modules are also accented with interlacing strands of PVC resulting in an optical expression of surging movement within the object. With his playful black and white Organic series, the works are intuitively created resulting in idiosyncratic undulating forms. The surface materiality of meticulously executed glazes and color further enhance each artwork for a striking graphic aesthetic. Ipsen’s sculptures exist within the sphere of Pop Art and Modernism’s organic abstraction as well as within a legacy of Scandinavian design; they are imbued with a contemplative mood and a feeling of timelessness.

Steen studied at The Royal Danish Academy, School of Design and Kolding Design School from 1984-1990, where he subsequently was Head of the Department if Ceramics and Glass from 1996-2004. He is a co-founder of the artist run exhibition platform, Copenhagen Ceramics (CC) launched in 2012, and where he continues to curate exhibitions. Steen has exhibited widely and internationally in both group and solos shows, and his work is in numerous private and public collections including MAD Museum in Paris, Clay Museum Denmark, Danish Arts Foundation and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

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STEEN IPSEN
Danish, b. 1966

EDUCATION
1987-1990 Royal Danish Academy, School of Design, Copenhagen, Denmark
1984-1986 Danish School of Design, Kolding, Denmark

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022    Steen Ipsen, Galerie Provence, Vadum, Denmark
2021    Steen Ipsen, Galerie Provence, Vadum, Denmark
2020    Reflections, Galerie Provence, Vadum, Denmark
2019    Steen Ipsen, Galerie NeC, Paris, France
2016    Puls Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
            Steen Ipsen, Galerie NeC, Paris, France
2014    Steen Ipsen, Galerie NeC, Paris, France
            Steen Ipsen, Copenhagen Ceramics, Denmark
2013    Steen Ipsen, Puls Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
            Cheongju International Crafts Biennale, Korea
2012    Ministry of Culture, Copenhagen, Denmark
            Steen Ipsen, Galerie NeC, Hong Kong
2011    Dock 56 Gallery, Hamburg, Germany 
2010    Steen Ipsen, Galerie NeC, Paris, France
2009    BN24 Gallery, Hamburg, Germany
2007    TIED-UP, Drud & Køppe Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2006    Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
2003    Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
2002    The Variation of Repetition, Gallery Nørby, Copenhagen Denmark
1966    New Ceramic Works, The Exhibition Room for New Ceramics, Copenhagen
1994    The Variation of Repetition, Gallery Nørby, Copenhagen
1993    Gallery Kobolt, Copenhagen, Denmark

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021    Bend, Bubble and Shine, Hostler Burrows, New York, and Los Angeles, USA
            Formens Magi, Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg, Denmark
2020    Homo Faber, Fondazione Giorgio Cini, San Giorgio Maggiore Island, Venice, Italy
            ESCAPING, Simard Bilodeau, Los Angeles, USA
            Summertime 20 – The Annual Group Show, Gallery Christopher Egelund, Copenhagen,
                 Denmark
            A SPACE BETWEEN, Duran Mashaal Gallery, Montreal, Canada
            Spring Exhibition, Galerie Provence, Vadum, Denmark
            Formes Vivantes, Musée National Adrien Dubouch, Limoges Frence
2019    Ceramic Momentum, CLAY Museum, Middlefart, Denmark
            100 Years of Danish Ceramics, Sophienholm, Denmark
2018    Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France
            Maison du Danemark, Paris, France
            Pik’d Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
            About Clay, Fiskars Village, Finland
            Galerie NeC, Paris, France
2017    Filosoffen, Odense, Denmark
2016    Crafting a Continuum: Rethinking Contemporary Craft, traveling US exhibition (2013-
                 2016); Houston Center of Contemporary Craft, Texas; Nora Eccles Museum of Art,
                 Logan, Utah; Boise Art Museum, Idaho; Bellevue Art Museum, Washington; ASU Art
                 Museum, Tempe, Arizona 
2014    10,000 Hours, Trapholt Kunstmuseum, Kolding, Denmark
2013    40 Year Anniversary Exhibition, Sydney Opera House, Australia
            Höganäs Museum och Konsthall, Sweden
            Spring Exhibition, Charlottenborg Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
            NeC Gallery, Paris, France
            NeC Gallery, Hong Kong
2012    Lys over Lolland, Denmark
            Parliament Building, Brussels, Belgium
            NeC Gallery, Paris, France
            Karen Bennicke and Steen Ipsen, Copenhagen Ceramics, Denmark
2011    Living with Ceramics, Puls at Ampersand House and Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
            Galerie NeC, Paris, France
            Extrudox A/S, Ann Linnemann Studio Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2010    It’s a Small World, Santiago, Chile
            International Salon, Lacoste Gallery, USA
            NeC Gallery, Paris, France
2009    It’s a Small World, Danish Design Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
            Danish Ceramics, Hobro, Denmark
2008    The View from Denmark, Lacoste Gallery, Concord, Massachusetts, USA
            NDC Statistics><Ceramics, Röshsska Museet, Gothenburg, Sweden
            Love Your Figure, Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Bruxelles, Belgium
            NDC Statistics><Ceramics, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany
            Sculptural Ceramics, St. Joseph Gallery, Leeuwarden, Holland
            Spring Exhibition, Charlottenburg Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
2007    Biennale for Craft and Design, Trapholt Kunstmuseum, Kolding, Denmark
2005    Conversation Pieces, Gallery Nørby, Copenhagen
            Dutch Ceramic Museum, De Tiendschuur, Holland
            The International Festival of Postmodern Ceramics, Croatia
2004    From the Kilns of Denmark: Contemporary Danish Ceramics, Maison du Danemark, Paris,
                 France
            The Nordic Embassies, Berlin, Germany
            Biennale for Craft and Design, Trapholt Kunstmuseum, Kolding, Denmark
2002    From the Kilns of Denmark: Contemporary Danish Ceramics, Traveling United States
                 Exhibition; Museum of Art and Design, New York, New York; Mingei international
                 Museum, Sacramento, California; Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, California;
                 Racine Art Museum, Wisconsin; Fitchburg Art Museum, Massachusetts
2001    New Danish Ceramics, The Danish Museum of Art & Design, Copenhagen, Denmark
1997    Table Top, The Exhibition Room for New Ceramics, Copenhagen, Denmark
            Danish Ceramic Triennale, Trapholt Kunstmuseum, Kolding, Denmark
            Danish Ceramics: 1850 to 1997, Sophienholm, Copenhagen, Denmark
1996    Duplika, Danish Architectural Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
1995    Talent Börse Handwerk, Munich, Germany
            Contemporary Danish Design, Sophienholm, Copenhagen, Denmark
            New Danish Ceramics, Ribe Museum of Art, Denmark
            International Contemporary Artists in Clay, Amsterdam, Denmark
1994    Room and Rituals of Everyday Life, Den Frie Udstilling, Copenhagen
            Danske Dage, Ljubljana, Slovenia
1993    Keramikkens Underskov, The Round Tower, Copenhagen
            Spring Exhibition, Charlottenborg Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
1992    XIII Biennale Internationale de Ceramique d’art, Vallauris, France
            Artist’s Autumn Exhibition, Den Frie Udstilling, Copenhagen, Denmark
1991    The Danish Museum of Arts & Design, Copenhagen, Denmark
1990    Graduate Exhibition, Kolding Design School, Denmark  

AWARDS
2013    Danish Arts Foundation three year working grant
2011    Annie and Otto Detlefs Foundation, Ceramic Prize
2010    Ellen and Knud Dahlhoff Larsens Foundation
2009, 12, 19     L. F. Foghts Foundation
2007    Ole Haslund Artist Foundation
            Honorable Mention, 4th World Ceramic Biennale, Korea
2005    BG Foundation
1991    Applied Art Prize of 1879, Bronze Medal
            The Danish Arts Foundation (1992, 93, 95, 96, 99, 01, 02, 04, 08, 10, 11, 12, 16 and 20)
            The Danish National Bank Jubilee Fund (1994, 95, 03, 04, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11 and 12)

SELECTED COLLECTIONS
CLAY Museum, Denmark
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France
Hetjens Museum, Düsseldorf, Germany
The Danish Embassy, Tokyo, Japan
Trapholt Art Museum, Denmark
The Danish Embassy, Washington DC, USA
Houston Art Collection, USA
The Danish Arts Foundation, Denmark
Höganäs Museum, Sweden
Musée de Sévres, Paris, France
ASU Art Museum, Arizona, USA
Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany
Annie and Otto Detlefs Johs. Collection, Denmark
Musée Magnelli, Vallauris, France
New Carlsberg Foundation, Denmark
Victoria & Albert Museum, London, United Kingdom
Icheon World Ceramic Center, Korea
Danish Museum of Art & Design, Copenhagen, Denmark
Danish Ceramic Museum, Middelfart, Denmark
The Danish National Police, Copenhagen, Denmark
Trapholt Art Museum, Kolding, Denmark
Art Foundation of the 14th of August
Ribe District Council, Denmark
Copenhagen Culture Foundation, Denmark
Private Collections

PROJECTS
2013                 Jury member, The Biennale for Crafts and Design, Copenhagen, Denmark
2007 - 2013      Censor, Copenhagen School of Design, Denmark
2010                Co-founder, Copenhagen Ceramics, Denmark
2005 - 2007      Lecturer, Kolding School of Design, Kolding, Denmark
2005 - 2006      Censor, the Charlottenburg Spring exhibition, Denmark   
2005                 Censor, Bornholm Glass, and Ceramic School, Denmark
1998                 Jury member, The Danish Ceramics Triennial, Trapholt Art Museum, Kolding,
                              Denmark
                         Judge, Competition: “The Future Playground”. The Danish Arts Foundation,
                              Copenhagen
1993 - 1996      Lecturer at Copenhagen School of Design, Denmark
1995                 Designer at the Kähler Factory, Næstved, Denmark
1994-1995        Lecturer at Kolding School of Design, Denmark

MEMBERSHIPS
2017                Member of the prize committee for The Biennale for Crafts and Design,
                             Koldinghus, Denmark
2013-2016       Member of the board, The Danish Arts Foundation
2014                National Commissioner, Bornholm Biennial for Contemporary European Glass
                             and Ceramics, Denmark
2013                Jury member of The Biennale for Crafts and Design
2007-2013       Member of the board, Danish Crafts, Denmark
2005-2008       Member of the board, International Ceramic Center, Guldagergaard, Denmark
2001                Member of New Danish Ceramics, Denmark
1998                Jury member, The Danish Ceramics Triennial, Trapholt Art Museum, Kolding,
                             Denmark
1997-2003       Member of the committee, The National Workshops for Arts and Crafts,
                             Copenhagen

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