ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art in Ishøj south of Copenhagen presents exhibitions with Danish, Nordic and international art – from new, young talents to established names ARKEN is a great and monumental building situated in the artificial landscape Køge Bay Beach south of Copenhagen. The museum has one of Scandinavia's finest collections of contemporary art, and the museum's maritime architecture with the pointed stern, which majestically protudes into the terrain, has won recognition both at home and abroad since its inaugaration in 1996.  ARKEN's collection contains more than 400 works - Danish, Nordic and international contemporary art primarly from the period after 1990. The museum houses, among other things, one of Europe's most important collections of the British artist Damien Hirst. Experience the museum's evolving sculpture park, nine works by acclaimed German artist Anselm Reyle as well as a magnificent masterpiece by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.  Distinctive architecture The museum building is an attraction in itself. With its scenic location on Kunstens Ø, or ‘Art Island’, the building, designed by the architect Søren Robert Lund, resembles a beached ship. A lagoon meanders its way around the museum, with several bridges linking the museum island with the surrounding beach area. The museum café hangs like a lifeboat on the side of the building and through the large panoramic windows overlooks Køge Bay. The museum shop is the area's leading design shop with an inspiring mix of Nordic design, art books, and gift items.   Exhibitions (arken.dk):   Anish Kapoor, Unseen: 11.4.24-20.10.24 Anish KapoorKapoor's monumental sculptures and installations speak directly to our senses and emotions. Through his unique eye for materials, shapes, colours and surfaces we are drawn into and seduced by his work, which turns the world upside down — often quite literally. Kapoor has been shown in the largest exhibition venues in the world, and he has also created several significant pieces for public spaces. Anish Kapoor was born and raised in an Indian-Jewish family in India. From 1973, he was educated in England, where he has worked ever since.ARKEN's exhibitionThe exhibition at ARKEN showcases a selection of Kapoor's most significant large-scale works created during the artist's more than 40-year career. The exhibition will be spread throughout most of ARKEN's halls: the Art Axis, the Large Gallery, the Graphic Gallery and other adjacent galleries. Despite the large exhibition space, the exhibition contains only about 10 works. The majority, however, are very extensive, and in scale and intensity the works will fill the entire museum. All of the works are built specifically for and integrated into ARKEN's architecture. In this way, the exhibition will take the form of a total intervention in architecture that challenges the usual way the building is used and the spaces are experienced. I Am Fire and Water, Ursula Reuter Christian­sen: 22.8.24-01.01.25 How can we be human in a world where hope and courage are constantly challenged by cruelty and despair? What do we do when children are robbed of their lives in war? And how do we part with this world, standing between love and the abyss? The exhibition I Am Fire and Water is a powerful performance by Ursula Reuter Christiansen bringing together eight major installations from the earliest years to the present day, from painting and sculpture to installation and film. Several of the works in the exhibition have been created especially for this exhibition. For six decades, Ursula Reuter Christiansen has been among the most significant living artists in Denmark, and today she stands on the threshold of an international breakthrough. In her artistic practice, she transforms her lived life into art and comes to grips with the crises and disasters unfolding in the world. Beauty and harmony give way to the powerful and uncomfortable when Reuter Christiansen brings to life fears and longings that are not only her own but are part of the human condition. She invites you to take a walk through the exhibition, which at the same time is a walk through the facets of life. From the colossal installation Rotten Eggs Against Bombs, in which rotten eggs drift down the canvases, to Washed Out Faces, composed of white pieces of fabric displaying blood-red demon-faces, hung to dry on oversized laundry racks. In the installation Es Ist Zu Spät, created especially for this exhibition, one walks with the artist on a journey through – and perhaps a parting with – the world. A whispering voice repeats the message “es ist noch nicht zu spät” (it is not too late) and shortly after “es ist zu spät” (it is too late). A balance on a knife edge between hope and hopelessness.  

With a unique location in Copenhagen’s historic centre, near tourist attractions, the harbour boats, design companies and galleries, Designmuseum Danmark is a working archive and the entrance to Denmark as a design destination.  Experience one of the world’s largest collections of Danish design, counting works by Finn Juhl, Arne Jacobsen, Poul Kjærholm, Verner Panton and Hans Wegner. In addition, the collections cover applied art and design from Art Nouveau to contemporary Danish design and include glass, ceramics, fashion, textile and poster art. The museum, situated right next to Amalienborg, is one of the finest examples of rococo architecture in Copenhagen. It offers thematic design exhibitions, special events, guided tours and workshops. Visitors are also invited to explore our beautiful garden, the café with indoor and outdoor service, the museum shop, and library. New permanent exhibition from June 2024: DANISH MODERN Danish design is known and loved – both at home and abroad. But what led to its success, which designs are central, and who are the major Danish designers of the 20th century? The exhibition 'Danish Modern' unfolds the story of Danish design from the 1920s to the 1970s, focusing on the creation of some of the most iconic Danish design objects. Special exhibitions:  IN LOVE & WAR, 26/4/24-5/1/25 Images of heroic warriors in battle and beautiful young people can be experienced in the exhibition 'In Love and War' at Designmuseum Danmark. The exhibition showcases carefully selected Japanese woodblock prints from the museum's large collection of Japanese craftsmanship.   In Love & War provides a rare glimpse into a period in Japan’s history when the shogun ruled and the country was isolated from the outside world. Here, the audience can experience images of beautiful young men and women from the so-called Edo period (1600-1868), when the Tokugawa shogunate ruled from the capital Edo, today Tokyo – as well as images of samurai and modern graphic war images from the Meiji period (1868-1912), where feudal rule under the shogun was replaced by a constitutional monarchy under Emperor Meiji. The title of the exhibition refers to the proverb “In love and war, all is fair” and alludes to the visual impact of the famous Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints, one of the foremost art forms of the Edo period. The distinctive expression in the ukiyo-e idealized the daily life of the prostitutes of that time and served as visual propaganda in the form of war images with nationalist and patriotic undertones.   The Future is Present, 19.6.22-31.12.24 Is society more diverse or more homogeneous in the future? How will we prioritize and design our communities? How do we create healthy and nourishing relationships? Will our behavior become more socially oriented, or will we be further apart and become isolated? Which human values will be more important? What will the future look like, and what will design look like in the future? Currently, designers around the world are working on solving some of our global challenges. Thinking radically and creatively, allowing themselves to be guided by both reason and emotion. They search extensively for inspiration, ask different questions, and envision themselves in the communities, whose lives they want to improve. Akut, series  Welcome to an exhibition about what is happening on the design scene right now. AKUT showcases everything from trends and tendencies to design, which address current issues and provide new perspectives on design and crafts.

Copenhagen Contemporary (CC) is Copenhagen’s international art center showing installation art created by world stars and new emerging talents It occupies the magnificent former B&W welding hall offering a total of 7,000 m2 of beautiful industrial halls with plenty of space to show the technical and large formats in which many contemporary artists work: total installations, performance art, and monumental video works. Art that can often be entered and sensed with the whole body.  Copenhagen Contemporary is one of Scandinavia’s largest exhibition venues for contemporary art and a lively meeting place for a wide audience. CC creates collaborative partnerships and organises events with a number of different partners across cultural genres locally and internationally. You can attend art talks, art walks, concerts, creative workshops for children, visit CC’s own shop offering Scandinavian design, and experience the unique and historical city district of Refshaleøen.  Situated centrally in B&W’s iconic welding hall, CC is an international power hub in Copenhagen’s new cultural district. The special quality of this area continues to be defined by its industrial history: the area is raw and green with commanding views across Copenhagen Harbour. The district is a mix of first-class gourmet restaurants and small entrepreneurial initiatives; you can go for a dip in the sea, for a sauna, enjoy a glass of wine, and eat grilled food, buy quality bread and visit Copenhagen’s most popular food market with stalls from across the world and lounge areas by the water’s edge. Not forgetting the climbing, skating,and skiing activities, the flea market, and the theatre and music festivals, which are just some of the many activities this area has to offer.  Exhibtions (copenhagencontemporary.org): The song is the call, and the land is calling, 14.6 - 29.12.24 Step into the thought-provoking works of the Palestinian artist duo Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme, which fill CC’s large Hall 3 with electronic rhythms, sampled archival material, captivating imagery and system-critical and poetic texts. The exhibition “The song is the call and the land is calling” unfolds simultaneously at CC and the Glyptotek, highlighting the deep connection between cultural heritage and identity. This double exhibition presents several of the artist duo’s key works in new versions, drawing connections between stories of oppression and dreams of liberation across different countries, histories, and political contexts. Marta Minujín: Intensify Life, 11.10.24 - 21.4.25 The major exhibition of the autumn at CC will be Europe’s first retrospective of the groundbreaking Argentine pop artist Marta Minujín. Marta Minujín (b. 1943) is an iconic figure and one of the most prominent Latin American pop and conceptual artists of all time. Over the past 60 years, she has developed happenings, performances, installations, and video works that have influenced generations of contemporary artists in Latin America, the USA, and Europe. The exhibition at CC unfolds Minujín’s life’s work across periods and geography, showcasing several of her most recent pieces, including gigantic installations, soft sculptures, and large collage paintings covered in Minujín’s iconic neon stripes and illuminated with video projections. Thanks to CC’s close collaboration with the artist, the audience will also have the unique opportunity to explore archival material that highlights some of the most central parts of Minujín’s work from her over 60-year-long career.

Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art is a must see in Copenhagen for anyone interested in art and architecture. Den Frie is closed between exhibitions. Please check the website before going. Den Frie was founded by artists in 1898 and is one of the oldest venues for contemporary art in Denmark. It is in itself a unique and very beautiful wooden building designed by famous artist J.F. Willumsen. Den Frie’s fundamental aim is to present the very latest in contemporary art. We host exhibitions by national and international artists, all of which address current issues. The extensive programme of exhibitions and events are evidence of Den Frie’s role as an active platform for living art and
art production, and the commitment to contribute to contemporary existence. With its relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, Den Frie is also a popular meeting place for artists, students, tourists and the many locals who pass by. As a visitor you’ll feel welcome and enjoy having your interest in contemporary art stimulated, whether you’re an art connoisseur or a beginner. On top of which the architecture alone is well worth a visit. Den Frie also houses the café, Polykrom, where you can enjoy a delicious lunch or a well-made cup of coffee.   Exhibitions (denfrie.dk): The Restaurant Season 2, October 5 2024 - January 19 2025 Will Benedict & Steffen Jørgensen Over the course of the past eight years, Will Benedict and Steffen Jørgensen have collaborated on an ongoing video series called The Restaurant, showcasing episodes in various exhibition contexts. The series is set in the ruins of a Parisian skyscraper, surrounded by dense jungle, where we are introduced to a variety of human and non-human characters who cook, serve, search for meaning, and fail in their attempts at being productive members of society. In Season 2, presented here at Den Frie, we follow a police detective and owner of Café Wha? as she aggressively questions customers on their eating habits, their relationship with “hanger”, and the effect food has on their lives in general. In the shadow of The Restaurant, a humanoid blue chicken and a man with ears for eyes host a science podcast for a small group of barn animals. With the aid of experts in the fields of bio-engineering, physics and zoology the program explores the world of the microbiome, the origins of fat, and what it would be like to live on an earth made entirely of blueberries. Over the course of each episode we meet a melancholy moon, a T-Rex stuck in an outhouse, a disenfranchised scarecrow and a half man, half snail making the essential deliveries that hold this world together. The elaborate installation of Season 2 places the viewer in the middle of this world, complete with a kitchen, toilet and bed along with all the other vital corporeal necessities a conscious organism could need.  

ORDRUPGAARD – AN INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DESTINATION You will find Ordrupgaard in scenic, peaceful surroundings just 10 km north of Copenhagen. The museum offers a unique array of world-class art, design and architecture. The park has art to enjoy, too. Monet, Degas, Gauguin – and HammershøiAt Ordrupgaard, you can explore one of Northern Europe’s most important collections of French Impressionism, featuring leading figures like Monet, Degas and Gauguin. In addition, visitors can enjoy an exquisite collection of Danish art focusing on Vilhelm Hammershøi and his contemporaries – as well as a succession of special exhibitions. Finn Juhl, Zaha Hadid and SnøhettaYou can also visit the former home of furniture designer Finn Juhl. Here his iconic furniture enters into a lively dialogue with the great Danish artists of modernism, just like when Finn Juhl lived here. Star architect Zaha Hadid and the award-winning design studio Snøhetta have also made their imprint on Ordrupgaard. Art in the open airIn the park, you can explore works by leading contemporary artists. All visitors  can give their inner child free rein, because here you are welcome to run, jump and climb on the art. Of course, you may simply prefer to settle on the lawn and enjoy the many sensory impressions offered by the scenic park. Ever since the couple who founded Ordrupgaard, Wilhelm and Henny Hansen, moved here in 1918, a pleasant, informal atmosphere has infused this place. It still does, making the museum popular with all generations. In the café, the chefs conjure up dishes from fresh Nordic ingredients to provide pit-stop refreshments with breathtaking views to green parkland. Temporary exhibitions: AI WEIWEI – WATER LILIES #1, 31 May 2024 – 19 January 2025 Ai Weiwei, a highly celebrated voice in the world art, has set up his installation Water Lilies #1 (2022) at Ordrupgaard. This spectacular work comprises more than 650,000 Lego bricks and, with an impressive length of fifteen metres, it is Ai Weiwei’s biggest Lego work to date. The enormous installation reconfigures one of the most iconic impressionist paintings, namely Claude Monet’s equally monumental triptych Water Lilies (1914–26), now at MoMA in New York. Whereas Monet excludes any hint of his own sorrowful life in his depiction of the tranquil beauty of the water lily pond, Ai Weiwei inserts a black portal among the colourful water lilies, thus unlocking the narrative about his formative childhood years spent with his father in a Chinese work camp. The exhibition shows how Monet’s painting is woven into Ai Weiwei’s gripping life story to re-emerge as a confrontation with the systematic suppression of the freedom of speech, which the now exiled artist, and his father before him, have experienced on body and soul in their native China. FLORA YUKHNOVICH. INTO THE WOODS - 18 September 2024 – 19 January 2025 British artist Flora Yukhnovich (b.1990) is acclaimed for her beautiful paintings in which she adopts the language of Rococo and Baroque, reimagining the dynamism of works by eighteenth-century artists through a filter of contemporary cultural references. Ordrupgaard now presents her first museum exhibition outside the UK. For this occasion, Yukhnovich has created four new paintings shown alongside recent works on loan from collections across the world. The female body is the recurrent motif in the sensually fabling canvases, leading the audience into a veritable forest of references.

The home of Karen Blixen - located directly by the Øresund Sound in Rungstedlund, an enchanting park and bird sanctuary north of Copenhagen. An author’s childhood home Karen Blixen was born in 1885 and died in 1962, but her memory lives on in her works and also this unique museum, opened in 1991 to honour her life and memory. You’ll find it on the site of her home growing up in Denmark, still virtually almost intact with the furniture from her childhood, as well as objects brought back from Kenya. Experience the atmosphere of the rooms in which her well-known and beloved tales came into existence. You can also enjoy the many beautiful fresh flowers throughout the house, just as they were when Karen lived there. Birdsong and wild flowers The stunning garden grounds, with its 15-hectare bird reserve, attracts researchers and nature lovers from home and abroad. It is free to access and was established in 1958 by the author herself. Here, too, walked the poet Johannes Ewald who has a hill named after him, and the park’s benches are named after others who once strolled its grounds for inspiration. You can even meet Karen Blixen herself. At the foot of Ewald’s Hill, you will find her grave beneath a large beech tree. The park is always open to visitors, who are invited to take a little walk and enjoy its beautiful natural setting. Nesting boxes are set up in the grove, and the space has become a breeding ground for many birds. Cultural hub The Karen Blixen Museum has a rich program of events and is a meeting place for those interested in culture and literature. All year round, writers, artists, researchers and politicians are invited to talk about some of the current topics in Danish culture, which has always been a thread to Karen Blixen's timeless writing. When you’re there, you should also visit Madam Carlsen Café and Bistro, serving French-inspired dishes as well as a selection of wine, coffee, tea and cake. All meals are carefully prepared with fresh local produce from the estate. 

MACA Museum is a contemporary art museum displaying many of the greatest artists of the 20th and 21st centuries - including Warhol, Basquiat, Banksy, RETNA, KAWS, Haring, Koons, Hirst, Emin, and Kusama. MACA Museum presents thought-provoking exhibitions of modern art in an elegant 19th century historic building located in the heart of Copenhagen. MACA offers free audio and text tour guides. The languages are English, Chinese (Simplified), Danish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish. The tour guide will provide more detailed information on the exhibitions. Current exhibitions: Banksy & Street Art: The Early Years MACA Museum presents ‘Banksy & Street Art: The Early Years’, an exhibition of rare drawings, stencils, photographs and paintings that provide a fascinating and revealing insight into Banksy’s early working methods and creative processes. Enjoy refreshments in a private outdoor courtyard café during spring and summer, and experience true Danish hygge during the cozy candlelit winter months.

Welcome to Gammel Strand A UNIQUE PLACE FOR ART LOVERSIn the heart of Copenhagen’s historical district right by the canalside lies Gammel Strand, an art institution focusing on modern and contemporary art. Gammel Strand showcases 6-8 exhibitions annually focusing on new Danish talent, the international contemporary art scene and artists art-historical themes in a present-day perspective.In connection with the series of exhibitions Gammel Strand regularly presents a per­spec­tivizing programme of events involving talks and debates, literature readings, concerts and guided tours. Visitors can also enjoy a break in the café with the charming courtyard, and buy art books, posters, and design items in the shop.  This spring, Gammel Strand presents an extensive exhibition with Yael Bartana (b.1970, Israel). Through video works, photography and installations, Bartana explores current, complex issues of national and cultural identity, trauma and power structures. The exhibition presents a wide range of Bartana’s work, from early video works and photo series to her latest comprehensive film work Malka Germania (2021). The exhibition runs from 2 February to the end of May 2024.   Special Exhibitions (gammelstrand.dk): In the Shadow of Burning Light, 7/6/24-8/9/24 In just a few years, Christina Quarles has become a significant name on the international art scene. Now, she is being shown for the first time in the Nordic region in this extensive solo exhibition. The Time Before, 21/6/24–8/9/24 Anna Bjerger and Chantal Joffe present poetically strong paintings, showcasing a painterly kinship between two artists whose lives and works have intertwined. As young artists, Anna Bjerger and Chantal Joffe shared a studio, building a close relationship and a tight collaborative environment. Women, children, potted plants, fashion, and detailed, intimate scenes comprise the subject matter that characterizes both artists' universes. The upcoming exhibition at Gammel Strand delves into the narrative of friendship, community, and the loneliness of being in the middle of life and longing for what has already passed. Chantal Joffe (b. 1969) is a British Artist known for her paintings of people, some very large, often of family and friends, the emotional intensity of relationships between people and how that can be painted are what interest her. Chantal graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland and The Royal College of Art in London. Anna Bjerger (b. 1973) is a Swedish artist living and working in Småland. She graduated from Central St. Martins School of Art and Design and The Royal College of Art in London. In her poetic and figurative paintings, Bjerger explores subjects from the intimate sphere, ranging from a coffee cup or a pair of shoes to friendships and other close relationships.