Biography
Per Kirkeby is one of the most internationally acclaimed Danish artists today. By the time he completed a masters education in arctic geology at the University of Copenhagen in 1964, he was already part of the important experimental art school “eks-skolen” and working primarily as a painter, sculptor, writer and a lithographic artist which he has pursued ever since. Kirkeby’s interest in geology and nature in general, still plays a crucial role in his artistic expressions these themes are therefore very characteristic in the works of the artist. Kirkeby’s works have been shown at many art exhibitions worldwide and are represented in many public collections such as Tate Gallery, London; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Museum of Modern Art, New York, Centre Pompidou, Paris. Kirkeby has been teaching as a professor at the Art Academy in Karlsruhe (1978–89) and Frankfurter Städelschule (1989–2000).
1962 Studies at the Experimental Art School in Copenhagen; works in the School on painting, graphic arts, 8 millimeter films and performance pieces
1974 First exhibition with Michael Werner Gallery, Cologne (still representing his work in Germany, UK and US); publishes Fliegende Blätter
1976 Participates in Venice Biennale (also in 1980, 1993, 1997 and 2005)
1977 One-man exhibition in the Museum Folkwang, Essen
1978 Professorship at the Academy of Fine Arts, Karlsruhe
1979 Purchases a house on the island Laeso in the Cattegat
1982 One-man exhibition in the Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven; Documenta VII, Kassel
1988 Publishes books of essays on Delacroix, Manet, Picasso
1990 Receives the Art Prize of NORD/LB, endowed for outstanding efforts in the subject of contemporary art
1996 Receives the Coutts Contemporary Art Foundation Award and the Henrik-Steffens-Award 1996
1999 Designs Swan Lake, New York City Ballet
2000 Professorship at the Städelschule, Frankfurt a.M.
2003 Receives Herbert-Boeckl-Preis for his lifework
2007 Designs set and costumes for Romeo and Juliet, New York City Ballet; first major exhibition in China at Shanghai Zendai Museum of Modern Art, Shanghai; “Per Kirkeby”, Arts Club of Chicago
2008 “Per Kirkeby Retrospective”, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark
2009 “Per Kirkeby Retrospective”, Tate Modern, London
Per Kirkeby currently lives and works in Copenhagen, Læsø, Frankfurt am Main and Italy.
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