Steen Ipsen (Danish, b. 1966) is a ceramic artist living and working in Copenhagen. Throughout his career he has explored and experimented with myriad themes emphasizing 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. His Ellipse sculptures are accented with interwoven strands of PVC, resulting in an optical expression of surging movement within the object. The monochromatic Organic works are created intuitively—a series of idiosyncratic undulating forms. Ipsen’s meticulously executed glazes further enhance each artwork with a striking graphic aesthetic. His 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 feeling of timelessness.
Ipsen studied at the Royal Danish Academy, School of Design and Kolding Design School from 1984–1990. He was appointed head of the Ceramics and Glass Department at the Royal Danish Academy, School of Design in 1996, a position he held through 2004. Ipsen is a co-founder of the artist-run exhibition platform Copenhagen Ceramics (CC), launched in 2012. His work has been exhibited widely, including numerous international solo presentations, and is in the collections of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France; Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK; Design Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark; CLAY Museum, Middelfart, Denmark; Hetjens Museum, Düsseldorf, Germany; Trapholt Art Museum, Kolding, Denmark; Höganäs Museum, Sweden; Musée de Sèvres, Paris, France; Musée Magnelli, Vallauris, France; and Icheon World Ceramic Center, South Korea, among others.
STEEN IPSEN
b. 1966, Naestved, Denmark
EDUCATION
1990
Royal Danish Academy, School of Design, Copenhagen, Denmark
1986
Danish School of Design, Kolding, Denmark
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBTIONS
2024
Kant Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2023
Organic Reflection, HB381, New York, NY
2022
Steen Ipsen, Galerie Provence, Vadum, Denmark
2021
Steen Ipsen, Galerie Provence, Vadum, Denmark
2020
Reflections, Galerie Provence, Vadum, Denmark
2019
Reflections, Galerie NeC, Paris, France
2016
Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
Steen Ipsen, Galerie NeC, Paris, France
2014
Steen Ipsen, Galerie NeC, Paris, France
Steen Ipsen: Organic Movements, Copenhagen Ceramics, Denmark
2013
Steen Ipsen, Puls Contemporary Ceramics, 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
Céramique, 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, Denmark
1994
The Variation of Repetition, Gallery Nørby, Copenhagen, Denmark
1993
Gallery Kobolt, Copenhagen, Denmark
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
Steen Ipsen & Kurt Trampedach, Galerie Provence, Vadum, Denmark
B&W, Duran Mashaal Gallery, Montreal, Canada
Wunderkammer, Peach Corner, Frederiskberg, Denmark
2022
Challenging Encounter, Galerie Provence, Vadum, Denmark
The Magic of Form – Design and Art, Design Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark
Homo Faber, Fondazione Giorgio Cini, San Giorgio Maggiore Island, Venice, Italy
2021
Bend, Bubble and Shine, Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
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, CA
Summertime 20 – The Annual Group Show, Galleri Christoffer Egelund, Copenhagen, Denmark
A Space Between, Duran Mashaal Gallery, Montreal, Canada
Spring Exhibition, Galerie Provence, Vadum, Denmark
Formes Vivantes, Musée National Adrien Dubouché, Limoges, France
2019
Ceramic Momentum, CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art, Middlefart, Denmark
100 Years of Danish Ceramics, Sophienholm, Denmark
XMAS’19-The Annual Winter Group Show, Galleri Christoffer Egelund, Copenhagen, 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, Houston Center of
Contemporary Craft, TX; Nora Eccles Museum of Art, Logan, UT; Boise Art Museum, ID; Bellevue Art Museum, WA; ASU Art Museum, Tempe, AZ
2014
10,000 Hours, Trapholt Kunstmuseum, Kolding, Denmark
2013
40 Year Anniversary Exhibition, Sydney Opera House, Australia
Höganäs Museum and Konsthall, Sweden
Spring Exhibition, Charlottenborg Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
NeC Gallery, Paris, France
NeC Gallery, Hong Kong
2012
Lys over Lolland, Sakskøbing, 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, Lucy Lacoste Gallery, Concord, MA
NeC Gallery, Paris, France
2009
It’s a Small World, Danish Design Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
Danish Ceramics, Hobro, Denmark
2008
The View from Denmark, Lucy Lacoste Gallery, Concord, MA
NDC Statistics><Ceramics, Röshsska Museet, Gothenburg, Sweden
Love Your Figure, Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
NDC Statistics><Ceramics, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany
Sculptural Ceramics, St. Joseph Gallery, Leeuwarden, Netherlands
Spring Exhibition, Charlottenburg Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
2007
Biennale for Craft and Design, Trapholt Kunstmuseum, Kolding, Denmark
2005
Conversation Pieces, Gallery Nørby, Copenhagen, Denmark
Dutch Ceramic Museum, De Tiendschuur, Netherlands
The International Festival of Postmodern Ceramics, Varazdin, 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, Museum of Art and Design, New York, NY; Mingei international Museum, Sacramento, CA; Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA; Racine Art Museum, WI; Fitchburg Art Museum, MA
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, Netherlands
1994
Room and Rituals of Everyday Life, Den Frie Udstilling, Copenhagen, Denmark
Danske Dage, Ljubljana, Slovenia
1993
Keramikkens Underskov, The Round Tower, Copenhagen, Denmark
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
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2005-07
Lecturer at Kolding School of Design, Denmark
1996-04
Head of the Ceramics and Glass Department, The Royal Danish Academy, School of Design, Copenhagen, Denmark
1993-96
Lecturer at Copenhagen School of Design, Denmark
1994-95
Lecturer at Kolding School of Design, Denmark
MEMBERSHIPS
2017
Prize Committee, The Biennale for Crafts and Design, Denmark
2013-16
Board Member, The Danish Arts Foundation
2014
National Commissioner, Bornholm Biennial for Contemporary European Glass and Ceramics, Denmark
2013
Jury Member, The Biennale for Crafts and Design, Denmark
2010
Co-founder, Copenhagen Ceramics, Denmark
2007-13
Board Member, Danish Crafts, Denmark
2005-08
Board Member, International Ceramic Center, Guldagergaard, Denmark
2001
Member of New Danish Ceramics, Denmark
1998
Jury Member, The Danish Ceramics Triennial, Trapholt Art Museum, Denmark
Judge, “The Future Playground” Competition, The Danish Arts
Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
1997-03
Committee Member, The National Workshops for Arts and Crafts, Copenhagen, Denmark
AWARDS AND GRANTS
The Danish Arts Foundation
L. F. Foghts Foundation
The Danish National Bank Jubilee Fund
Annie and Otto Johs. Detlefs Foundation, Ceramic Prize
Ellen and Knud Dahlhoff Larsens Foundation
Ole Haslund Artist Foundation
Honorable Mention, 4th World Ceramic Biennale, Korea
BG Foundation
Applied Art Prize of 1879, Bronze Medal
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
CLAY Museum, Middelfart, Denmark
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France
Hetjens Museum, Düsseldorf, Germany
The Danish Embassy, Tokyo, Japan and Washington, DC
Trapholt Art Museum, Kolding, Denmark
Houston Art Collection, TX
The Danish Arts Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
Höganäs Museum, Sweden
Musée de Sèvres, Paris, France
ASU Art Museum, Tempe, AZ
Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany
Annie and Otto Johs. Detlefs Collection, Denmark
Musée Magnelli, Vallauris, France
New Carlsberg Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK
Icheon World Ceramic Center, South Korea
Danish Museum of Art & Design, Copenhagen, Denmark
Danish Ceramic Museum, Middelfart, Denmark
The Danish National Police, Copenhagen, Denmark
Trapholt Kunstmuseum, Kolding, Denmark
Ribe District Council, Denmark
Copenhagen Culture Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
