Michael Geertsen
I characterize my exploration of ceramics in this exhibition, We Come in Peace, as
an eclectic manifesto. In meta-artistic terms and with complete naturalness, I cite historical currents and epochs of art, design, and architecture. Movement as motif is a key mode in my work: energetic, capturing space, unfolding without resistance. It is a complex encounter between the decorative elements and the sculptural form of the actual object. The objects appear as pulsating bodies with cylinders, funnels and cones sucked in and out of their forms. The push and pull calls attention to the fact that this closed sculptural body has an interior; one that is cut off from the human eye, but is nonetheless present as a close and meaningful active element.
MICHAEL GEERTSEN, born 1966 in Denmark
Lives & Works in Copenhagen
EDUCATION
1988-93 Danish Design School, Copenhagen
1984-88 Trained with a potter (apprentice)
MUSEUMS REPRESENTATIONS
2011, 2009, 2007, 2002 Designmuseum Denmark. Copenhagen.
2011, 2005 Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England
2009 Trapholt Art Museum, Kolding, Denmark
2008 Magnelli Museum, Vallauris, France
2007 Ceramic Museum, Inceon, South Korea.
2007 Museum of Fine Art, Houston, Texas, USA
2007 Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum. Tronheim. Norway
2007 International Ceramic Museum, Middelfart, Denmark
2006 RAM – Racine Art Museum, Wisconsin, USA
2005 McManus Museum, Dundee, Scotland
2004 Fuller Museum, Massachusetts, USA
2004 Museum of Arts and Design, New York City, USA
2004 FULE ceramic Museum, Fuping, China
2000 Sealand Ceramic Museum, Roskilde, Denmark
SOLO EXHIBITIONS (since 2001)
2011 Jason Jacques Gallery, NYC
2010 A-Gallery, Copenhagen
2008 Six PM, London
2008 Duo show with Bodil Manz, Tong in Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2007 Køppe Gallery, Copenhagen
2005 Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels
2004 Museumsbygningen, Copenhagen
2004 David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
2003 Clara Scremini Gallery, Paris
2003 Garth Clark Gallery, Long Island City, USA
2002 Gallery Nørby, Copenhagen
2001 Clara Scremini Gallery, Paris
2001 Puls - Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels
COMMISSIONS
2011 Site specific commission, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, England
2009 Nordea Denmark, Conference room, Copenhagen
2009 60 m2 mural in Centrum of Hanoi, Vietnam
2006 Site specific commission, OJD Holding, Solrød Strand, Denmark
2003 Site specific commission, Copenhagen Teachers Union, Copenhagen
2003 Plant Pots for 'Pompeisalen', Carlsberg Akademi, Copenhagen
2003 Sculptures, DONG, Kalvebod Brygge, Copenhagen
GRANTS / PUBLIC AWARDS
2011-1995 Grants from The Danish Art Foundation.
2008 Annie & Otto Joh. Detlefs Ceramic Prize, Denmark
2008 Ceramic Biennial Vallauris, winner in the category 'Container', France
2007 Silver prize, World Ceramic Biennale in South Korea
2001-1999 The Danish Arts Fundation three-year grant
1995 Prize awarded by the Danish Arts Foundation
FREELANCE INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
MUUTO
Cor Unum
Kähler
City and Housing Department
Royal Copenhagen
House of Prince
Paustian
IKEA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (selected since 2003)
2010 'Across' Carlsberg, Copenhagen
2010 European Ceramic Context . Bornholm Art museum, Denmark
2009 Cheongju International Craft Biennale 2009, South Korea
Kuwait Art Foundation LLC, Kuwait
'Collect" Saatchi Gallery, Køppe Gallery, London
2008 Røsska Design Museum, Sweden.
Openingshow at Columbus Circle. Museum of Arts & Design, NYC, USA
'Statistic Ceramic' New Danish Ceramics, Kunst & Gewerbe Museum, Hamburg, Germany
Duo show with Bodil Manz, Tong in Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
Ceramic Biennial Vallauris. Winner in the category 'Container', France
Intervention with Magnelli. Magnelli Museum Vallauris, France
Ceramic competition Mino, Japan
SOFA, New York, Køppe Gallery
SOFA, Chicago, Lacoste Gallery
2007 PRESENT – New Nordic Ceramic, Norway
World Ceramic Biennale, South Korea
FUNK ART, Køppe Gallery, Copenhagen
Design/Miami Basel, Fair, Clara Scremini Gallery
2006 Scripps College 62nd Ceramic Annual, Claremont, CA, USA
‘Collect’ Gallery Nørby at V&A Museum, London
‘Danish’ framing the future of Danish Design, The Danish Embassy, Berlin.
2005 'Collect', V&A Museum, London
SOFA, Chicago, Gallery Nørby
'Terra Nova', MAD Museum, New York City
‘Danish’ framing the future of Danish Design. Danish Design Centre, Copenhagen.
2004 'A Secret History of Clay', From Gauguin to Gormley, Tate Liverpool, England
‘Stuff-ingenuity and critique’, Toronto, Canada
'SOFA', Chicago Gallery Nørby
’From the Kilns of Denmark’, The Danish House in Paris,
Clara Scremini Gallery, Paris
’From the Kilns of Denmark’ The Danish Embassy, Berlin
2003 'From the Kilns of Denmark’ Contemporary Danish Ceramics, Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Mingei International Museum, San Diego, California. Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, California. Racine Art Museum, Racine, Wisconsin.
'SOFA', New York, Garth Clark Gallery
'SOFA', Chicago, Gallery Nørby
‘New Danish Ceramics’, DesignMuseumDenmark. Copenhagen
