Vibeke Fonnesberg Schmidt’s (b. 1967, Denmark) creative process is fueled by numerous sources of inspiration, from natural phenomena to manmade objects and structures. Her lamps in brass and acrylic contain echoes of 1960s Italian design, French Art Nouveau, and German Bauhaus modernism. The initial spark is often intuitive, springing from an unexpected source or a lucky encounters: the chromatic palette of a film, color combinations found in the cityscape, as well as geology, plant life, and the visual arts.
A recurring interest for Fonnesberg Schmidt is geometry and its varying uses in architecture throughout history. To create her visually striking lamps, she begins with a compelling geometrical shape, which she then reiterates to construct a systematic geometric network. The next phase involves breaking up the system and its predictability by various means, for example by shifting or displacing elements, altering colors, creating overlaps, and incorporating the interplay of light. In an experimental and explorative process, she aims for a sense of harmonious disharmony, a balanced yet vibrant formal construction. Fonnesberg Schmidt creates graphic, simple, and clear works that can be seen from any angle and which invite further examination.
Fonnesberg Schmidt studied ceramics under Yoh Tanimoto in Iga, Japan, an experience which led her to pursue a degree in ceramics from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and to study at the Glasgow School of Art. Her work as a lighting designer and ceramic artist has been featured in numerous exhibitions, including at the Rörstrand Museum, Danish Architecture Center, Ceramics Museum Grimmerhus, and Kunsthal Charlottenborg, and is in the collection of the Danish Design Museum, the CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art Denmark, the New Carlsberg Foundation, and the Trapholt Museum, among others. She is the recipient of grants and awards from the Danish Art Foundation, the National Banks Jubilee Foundation, Consul Georg Jorck and Hustru Emma Jorck Foundation, King Frederik and Dronning Ingrid Foundation, the Biennale for Crafts and Design, and the Applied Art Prize of 1879.
VIBEKE FONNESBERG SCHMIDT
b. 1967, Denmark
EDUCATION
1994
Ceramic Department, The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Design, Copenhagen, Denmark
1992
Ceramic Department, Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland
1988
Ceramics Assistant to Yoh Tanimoto, Iga, Japan
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2022
The Mindcraft Project, Copenhagen, Denmark
2016
In Between, Mindcraft, Circolo Filologico, Milan, Italy
In Between, Mindcraft, Designmuseum Danmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
London Design Festival with Mint Gallery, London, UK
2015
Life on Mars, Dimore Gallery, Milan, Italy
Lys_objekt, Louis Poulsen and Gallery Superobjekt, Copenhagen, Denmark
Fuorisalone with Nilufar Gallery, Milan, Italy
2014
Danish Design, Stilwerk, Hamburg, Germany
2013
Edition One, Gallery Superobjekt at Museumsbygningen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Kun et Minut (Just a Minute), Nivaagaard Collection, Nivå, Denmark
2011
Still Light, Dansk Design Center, Milan, Italy
2009
Biennalen for Kunsthåndværk og Design (The Biennial for Craft and Design), Trapholt Museum of Modern Art, Craft, and Design, Kolding, Denmark
Forårsudstillingen (The Spring Exhibition), Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
2007
Biennalen for Kunsthåndværk og Design (The Biennial for Craft and Design), Trapholt Museum of Modern Art, Craft, and Design, Kolding, Denmark
2006
Works: Nordiskt Konsthantverk (Works: Nordic Craft), Rörstrand Museum, Lidköping, Sweden
Puls Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
2005
Konversationsstykker (Conversation Pieces), Galleri Nørby, Copenhagen, Denmark
Yellow, Danish Architecture Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
2004
Biennalen for Kunsthåndværk og Design (The Biennial for Craft and Design), Trapholt Museum of Modern Art, Craft, and Design, Kolding, Denmark
2003
Puls Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
2001
Dansk Form (Danish Form), Architecture Museum of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Dansk Form (Danish Form), Gammel Dok, Copenhagen, Denmark
Keramiske Temaer (Ceramic Themes), Grimmerhus, Middelfart, Denmark
52nd International Competition for Contemporary Ceramic Art, Faenza, Italy
2000
Efterårsudstillingen (The Autumn Exhibition), Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
Keramik Triennalen, Trapholt, Kolding, Denmark
1999
Biennalen for Kunsthåndværk og Design (The Biennial for Craft and Design), Trapholt Museum of Modern Art, Craft, and Design, Kolding, Denmark
Udstillingssted for Ny Keramik, Copenhagen, Denmark
Urban, Galerie Maronie, Kyoto, Japan
1998
Galleri Nørby, Copenhagen, Denmark
1997
Biennalen for Kunsthåndværk og Design (The Biennial for Craft and Design), North Jutland Art Museum, Aalborg, Denmark
Dansk Keramik 1850–1997 (Danish Ceramics 1950–1997), Sophienholm Kunsthal, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Urban, Biennaleprismodtagerne 1995, Design Museum Denmark
1996
Forårsudstillingen (The Spring Exhibition), Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
1995
Biennalen for Kunsthåndværk og Design (The Biennial for Craft and Design), Designmuseum Danmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
Forårsudstillingen (The Spring Exhibition), Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
AWARDS AND GRANTS
Applied Art Prize of 1879, Bronze Medal
Applied Art Prize of 1879, Silver Medal
Biennale Prize 1995, Biennale for Crafts & Design, Denmark
Consul Georg Jorck and Hustru Emma Jorck Foundation
Craftsman of the Year 2016, Design Awards, Denmark
Illum Foundation
King Frederik and Dronning Ingrid Foundation
Knud Højgaards Foundation
L.F. Foght Foundation
The Danish Art Foundation
The Danish National Bank Jubilee Foundation
Unidanmark Foundation
COLLECTIONS
CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art Denmark, Middelfart, Denmark
Designmuseum Danmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
New Carlsberg Fondation, Copenhagen, Denmark
The Danish Art Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
Trapholt Museum of Modern Art, Craft, and Design, Kolding, Denmark