Viewing Room Main Site
Skip to content

Biography

Bente Skjøttgaard - Artists + Designers - Hostler Burrows

In the ceramic sculpture of Bente Skjøttgaard (Danish, b. 1961), natural and scientific phenomena find expression in tendrils of clay reaching, flexing, and gesturing in tempestuously coiled combinations. These coils gather to form whip-like networks, spiral whorls, and interlocking molecular geometries. Often poised on the tips of stilt-like supports which buckle ever so slightly beneath the sculpture’s weight, the works materialize the physical forces at work in three-dimensional construction: tensile strength, gravitational pull, cantilevered volumes, and the slow alchemy of minerals and glazes combining in the high-temperature crucible of the kiln.

Skjøttgaard’s subjects emerge from loose, gestural coils of clay which are deliberately unglazed in places, captured in medias res, intentionally imperfect yet always dynamic. Frequently, Skjøttgaard’s work pays homage to the turbulence of natural phenomena, whether drawing on the form of brewing storm clouds and whistling tornado funnels or considering the flagella of sea life and the matted networks of tree roots tunneling into the soil. In doing so, she foregrounds the capacity of clay to exhibit opposing ideas — strength and elasticity, density and weightlessness, impressionability and durability — in sculptures based upon the structures of cloud typologies, iterations of the bonds between carbon atoms, or in one case, formed from the imprints of the hoofs of cattle grazing.

Her practice is often described in experimental terms for good reason: the variations in glaze and structure perform a trial and repetition of making. It is a way of working which reveals the restless, unrelenting face of the creative process and its pursuit of endless possibility.

Skjøttgaard attended the Kolding Design School and Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. Her work has been exhibited at the Vejen Art Museum, Holstebro Kunstmuseum, Musée Fabre, and the Trapholt Art Museum. Her sculptures are in the collection of numerous institutions, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Musée National de Céramique de Sévres, the Designmuseum Danmark, and the Annie & Otto Johs. Detlefs Collection. Skjøttgaard is the recipient of awards including the Grosserer L. F. Foghts Fund, the Design Foundation Award, the Arts and Crafts Prize of 1879, and the Exhibition Award of Charlottenborg.

CV

BENTE SKJØTTGAARD
b. 1961, Frederiksberg, Denmark

EDUCATION
1986    Kolding Design School, Kolding, Denmark
1985    Exchange student at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem, Israel


SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2024    Timberline, Galerie Maria Lund, Paris, France
2021    Bente Skjøttgaard: Ten Tales of Glaze, Køppe Contemporary Objects,
            Rønne, Bornholm, Denmark
            Bente Skjøttgaard: Tableaux, Galerie Maria Lund, Paris, France
2020    Bente Skjøttgaard: Biotope, Ann Linnemann Galleri, Copenhagen, Denmark
2019    Look at Me!, Madoura, Vallauris, France
2018    Look at Me!, Galerie Maria Lund, Paris, France
            Nature of Glaze, Pierre Marie Giraud, Brussels, Belgium
2016    Bente Skjøttgaard, Espèces Nouvelles, Galerie Maria Lund, Paris, France
            New Species, Galerie Maria Lund, Paris, France
2014    Cumulus Congestus, Galerie Pierre Marie Giraud, Brussels, Belgium
            Cumulonimbus, Copenhagen Ceramics, Frederiksberg, Denmark
2013    Aire de Repos, Galerie Maria Lund, Paris, France
2011    Fokus on Traces, Vejen Art Museum, Vejen, Denmark
            Puls-Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
2010    Dans les nuages, Galerie Maria Lund, Paris, France
            Cumulus, Ann Linnemann Studio Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2008    Blås & Knåda, Stockholm, Sweden
            Elements in White, Galerie Maria Lund, Paris, France
            Køppe Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2007    Puls-Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
2006    Galerie Maria Lund - La Galerie Danoise, Paris, France
2005    Interglacial Period, Galleri Nørby, Copenhagen, Denmark
2004    Galerie Maria Lund - La Galerie Danoise, Paris, France
2003    Glazed Items with Ramifications, Holstebro Kunstmuseum, Holstebro, Denmark
            Puls-Contempory Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
            Bente Skjøttgaard 2001–2003, Grimmerhus Museum of
            International Ceramic Art, Middelfart, Denmark
2001    Puls-Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
2000    Glasurstykker (Glazed Items), Galleri Nørby, Copenhagen, Denmark
1997    Håndvask (Washbasin), Udstillingssted for Ny Keramik, Copenhagen, Denmark
1990    The Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Shop, Amagertorv, Copenhagen, Denmark

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024    3daysofdesign Festival, Peach Corner, Frederiksberg, Denmark
            Ceramic Brussels Fair, represented by Galerie Maria Lund Paris, Brussels, Belgium
2023    The Cheongju Craft Biennale 2023, Cheongju-si, South Korea
            Alchemists Convention: A ceramic meeting between past and present, Vejen Art Museum,
            Vejen and Peach Corner, Frederiksberg, Denmark
2022    Bente Skjøttgaard & Anne Damgaard: Everything Flows, Museet Holmen,
            Løgumkloster, Denmark
            Bente Skjøttgaard & Anne Damgaard: Everything Flows, Peach Corner,
            Frederiksberg, Denmark
            Smoke, Jason Jacques Gallery for Last Prisoner Project, New York, NY
            Les Flammes: L’Âge de la Céramique, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, Paris, France
2021    Bend, Bubble and Shine: Copenhagen Ceramics, Hostler Burrows Annex, Los Angeles, CA
            Bend, Bubble and Shine: Copenhagen Ceramics, Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
            Glaze Tests, Galerie Handwerk, Munich, Germany
            Stefan Reiterer + Bente Skjøttgaard, Stereo Exchange, Frederiksberg, Denmark
            Glowing in the Dark, The Biennale for Craft & Design, Koldinghus, Kolding, Denmark
            Peach Corner, Frederiksberg, Denmark
2020    Ler er Livet, Erik Veistrups Samling, CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art
            Grimmerhus, Middelfart, Denmark
            Glowing in the Dark, Jason Jacques Gallery, New York, NY
            Anne Damgaard and Bente Skjøttgaard: All Solid Melts into Air,
            Kunstpakhuset, Ikast, Denmark
            Eight Marts Woman Nature, Store Kongensgade, Copenhagen, Denmark
2019    Salon Art + Design NYC, represented by Side Gallery Barcelona, New York, NY
            PAD London, represented by Side Gallery
            Regarder les nuages, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Cambrai, Cambrai, France
            100 Års Dansk Keramik, Kunstforeningen Det ny Kastet, Thisted, Denmark
            100 Års Dansk Keramik, Sophienholm, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
            Ceramic Momentum: Staging the Object, CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art
            Grimmerhus, Middelfart, Denmark
            reCLAYmed, Berg Gallery AB, Stockholm, Sweden
            Gabriel & Guillaume, Beirut, Lebanon
            Turn Me On ... Now, Side Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
            100 Years of Danish Ceramics, Sophienholm Lyngby and Kunstforeningen
            Det Nu Kastet, Thisted, Denmark
2018    100 Years of Danish Ceramics, Maison du Danemark, Paris, France
            Present, Musée & Jardins Van Buuren, Brussels, Belgium
            Mesterværker Jubilæumsudstilling,  Ann Linnemann Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
            Design Miami/Basel, represented by Pierre Marie Giraud, Basel, Switzerland
2017    Claytime!, Side Gallery, Barcelona, Spain 
            Grand Designs — Clever Hands, CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art
            Grimmerhus, Middelfart, Denmark
            The Stars, They Are, Berg Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
            Design Miami/Basel, represented by Galerie Pierre Marie Giraud, Basel, Switzerland
            Design Miami, represented by Galerie Pierre Marie Giraud, Miami, FL
            Ultimate Impact: Five Phenomena in Nordic Design Culture, Rundetårn,
            Copenhagen, Denmark
            Object, My Friends, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco
            Glaze, Glasur: Kemi - Masse - Myte, Sophienholm, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
            Special Exhibition: Modern Masters, International Trade Fair, Munich, Germany
            Nuages, Galerie du WCC-BF, Mons, Belgium
2016    Design Miami/Basel, represented by Galerie Pierre Marie Giraud, Basel, Switzerland
            Design Miami, represented by Galerie Pierre Marie Giraud, Miami, FL
            Nuages, Centre Céramique de Giroussens, Giroussens, France
            Copenhagen Ceramics Invites, Galleria Salvatore Lanteri, Milan, Italy
2015    Design Miami/Basel, Represented by Galerie Pierre Marie Giraud, Basel, Switzerland
            Design Miami, Represented by Galerie Pierre Marie Giraud, Miami, FL 
            Random Growth, Contemporary European Ceramics, Phos Art + Design, London, UK
            Climats Artificiels, Espace Fondation EDF, Paris, France
            Quatorzième Parcours Céramique Carougeois, Biennale Internationale de
            Céramique Contemporaine, Carouge, Switzerland
            Many a Slip, Marsden Woo Gallery, London, UK
            Glitter and Glaze, Superobjekt Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2014    10 000 Hours – What is Talent, TRAPHOLT Art Museum, Kolding, Denmark
            Design Miami/Basel, Represented by Galerie Pierre Marie Giraud, Basel, Switzerland
            Design Miami, Represented by Galerie Pierre Marie Giraud, Miami, FL
            The Ceramic Object, Galleri Format, Oslo, Norway
            Art14, Galerie Maria Lund, London, UK
            Formed, Djanogly Art Gallery, Nottingham, UK
2013    Design Miami/Basel, represented by Galerie Pierre Marie Giraud, Basel, Switzerland
            Design Miami, represented by Galerie Pierre Marie Giraud, Miami, FL
            Copenhagen Ceramics Invites, Galerie Maria Lund, Paris, France
            We Would Be Delighted to See, Art Center Silkeborg Bad, Silkeborg, Denmark
2012    Bodil Manz and Bente Skjøttgaard: Cuts and interventions,
            Copenhagen Ceramics, Frederiksberg, Denmark
            Glasurglæder (Glaze Joys), Vejen Art Museum, Vejen, Denmark
            Underværker: Masterpieces from Danish Private Collections, Kunsten Museum of
            Modern Art, Aalborg, Denmark
            Fra Sans til Samling: New Donations from Erik Veistrup,
            Grimmerhus Museum of International Ceramic Art, Middelfart, Denmark
            Perturbations, Musée Fabre, Montpellier, France
            Mindcraft 12, Danish Crafts, Ventura Lambrate, Milan, Italy
2011    Seizième Biennale Internationale de Céramique de Châteauroux, Châteauroux, France
            Biennalen for Kunsthåndværk og Design, Koldinghus, Kolding, Denmark
            The Sixth International Competition, GICBiennale, Icheon, South Korea
            KIAF Korea International Art Fair, Galerie Maria Lund, Seoul, South Korea
            Mindcraft 11, Danish Crafts, Ventura Lambrate, Milan, Italy
            Living with Ceramics, Puls-Contemporary Ceramics at Ampersand House,
            Brussels, Belgium
2010    Biennale International de Vallauris, Musée Magnelli, Vallauris, France
            KIAF Korea International Art Fair, Galerie Maria Lund, Seoul, South Korea
            Across, Carlsberg Ny Tap, Copenhagen, Denmark
2009    Collect, Køppe Gallery, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
            The Invitational World Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition: Adventures of the Fire,
            South Korea
            KIAF Korea International Art Fair, Galerie Maria Lund, South Korea
            Quinziéme Biennale International de Céramique, Châteauroux, France
            Room 141, Gallery Contemporary Ceramics, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK

2008        Statistics><Ceramics, New Danish Ceramics, Röhsska Museet, Göteborg, Sweden; 
                Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany
                Lux-Lab, Gimsinghoved, Struer, Denmark
                KIAF Korea International Art Fair, Galerie Maria Lund, South Korea
2007        Collect, Galleri Nørby, V&A, London, UK
                Biennalen, Trapholt Art Museum, Kolding, Denmark
                Everything Is Flux, Drud & Køppe Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2006        Bjerge i Dansk Kunst (Mountains in Danish Art), Herning Museum of
                Contemporary Art, Herning, Denmark
                European Ceramic Context, Bornholm Art Museum, Gudhjem, Denmark
2005        SOFA Chicago, Galleri Nørby, Chicago, IL
                The Carsten Løvbjerg Collection, Horsens Art Museum, Horsens, Denmark
2004        SOFA Chicago, Galleri Nørby, Chicago, IL
                Corner, Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
                Biennalen, Trapholt Art Museum, Kolding, Denmark; Museum of Modern Art,
                Aalborg, Denmark
2003        SOFA Chicago, Galleri Nørby, Chicago, IL
                New Danish Ceramics, The Danish Museum of Art & Design, Copenhagen, Denmark
2002        From the Kilns of Denmark: Contemporary Danish Ceramics,
                The Museum of Art and Design, Traveling: New York, NY; Fitchburg, MA;
                San Diego, CA; Sacramento, CA; Racine, WI; Paris, France; and Berlin, Germany
                Mellem Rum (In-between Spaces), Udstillingssted for Ny Keramik at
                Galleri Nørby, Copenhagen, Denmark
2000        Keramik uden Fortilfælde (Ceramics of No Precedent), Udstillingssted for
                Ny Keramik, Copenhagen, Denmark
                Dansk Form: Design vom Nachbarn, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe,
                Hamburg, Germany
1999        Keramik aus Dänemark, Galleri Handwerk, Munich, Germany
1998        Bente Skjøttgaard and Anne Tphøj: I Blomst — I Vase (In Bloom – In Vase),
                Udstillingssted for Ny Keramik Copenhagen, Denmark
1996        Duplika: Danish Applied Art, The Danish Architecture Centre,
                Gammel Dok, Copenhagen, Denmark
1995        En Badeværelseshistorie (A Bathroom Story), Galleri Nørby, Copenhagen, Denmark
                Dansk Design Proces: Produkt, The Danish Architecture Centre,
                Gammel Dok, Copenhagen, Denmark
1994        Rooms and Rituals of Everyday Life, Den Frie, Copenhagen, Denmark
                The Ceramic Jug, Marienlyst Castle, Helsingør, Denmark
                The Danish Ceramics Triennial 1, Trapholt Art Museum, Kolding, Denmark
1993        The Arts and Crafts Prize of 1879, The Danish Museum of Art & Design,
                Copenhagen, Denmark
1991        Never Compromise on Quality, Spøttrup Castle Museum, Skive, Denmark
                Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark
                Charlottenborg Autumn Exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark

PUBLIC COMMISSIONS
2011        Traces of the Jutland Cattle, Art Along the Ancient Road Hærvejen in Jutland,
                The Danish Arts Foundation

AWARDS

Annie & Otto Johs. Detlefs’ Keramikpris
Danish Crafts
Danmarks Nationalbanks Jubilæumsfond af 1968
Designfonden
Det Reiersenske Fond
Grosserer L.F. Foghts Fond
Inga og Ejvind Kold Christensens pris
Kunsthåndværkerprisen af 1879
National Workshops for Arts and Crafts, Ministry of Culture, Denmark
Nationalbankens påskønnelseslegat
Ole Haslunds Artist Foundation
Ole Haslunds Kunstnerfond
The Arts and Crafts Price of 1879
The Danish Art Foundation
The Danish Art Foundation Three-Year Grant
The Design Foundation
The Exhibition Award of Charlottenborg

OTHER ACTIVITIES
2014            Jury member at the Biennale Internationale de Vallauris, France
2012            Co-manager of Copenhagen Ceramics, Smallegade 46, Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, 
                    Denmark
2011            Co-founder of the exhibition platform Copenhagen Ceramics
                    “10 Days,” International Ceramics Workshop at the GIC Biennale, Icheon,
                    South Korea
                    Co-initiator of “SuperFormLab”, the new ceramics department at the Royal
                    Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Design
2009–2011   Traces of the Jutland Cattle: Art Along the Ancient Road Hærvejen in Jutland, a 
                     project by the Danish Arts Foundation.
2009             ISCAEE Symposium: The International Symposium of Ceramics
                     Education and Exchange, South Korea
2006–2008    Board Member, International Ceramic Research Center Guldagergaard, Skælskør, 
                     Denmark
2006             Co-founder of the exhibition group “Lux Lab”
2005             Lecturer at the Department of Ceramics, The Danish Design School, Copenhagen, 
                     Denmark
2002–2003    Crafts Collection 6 and 7, Danish Crafts, Ambiente, Frankfurt, Germany
2001–2002    Jury Member, Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition
2001             Co-founder of the exhibition group “New Danish Ceramics”
1999–2000    Joint Owner of Udstillingssted for Ny Keramik (The Exhibition Room for New 
                     Ceramics), Kompagnistræde 25, Copenhagen, Denmark
1994–2005    Visiting Teacher, Kolding Design School and The Danish Design School,
                     Copenhagen, Denmark
1986–1990    Artist at the Royal Danish Porcelain Factories Bing & Grøndahl and Royal 
                     Copenhagen

COLLECTIONS
Annie & Otto Johs. Detlefs Collection
Carsten Løvbjerg Collection
Copenhagen Culturel Foundation
Designmuseum Danmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
Erik Veistrup Collection, Museum of International Ceramic Art, Denmark
Fond National d’Art Contemporain, France
Grimmerhus, Museum of International Ceramic Art, Middelfart, Denmark
Holstebro Kunstmuseum, Holstebro, Denmark
Kunstforeningen af 14. August, Copenhagen, Denmark
Musée des Art Décoratifs, Paris, France
Musée National de Céramique de Sévres, France
The Danish Art Foundation
Trapholt Art Museum, Kolding, Denmark
Vejen Art Museum, Vejen, Denmark
Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK

Back To Top