Katrine Ærtebjerg
KATHRINE ÆRTEBJERG
Kathrine Ærtebjerg’s paintings are known for her surreal and enigmatic imagery with human figures, animals, objects and concrete forms that move in the borderland between the figurative and the abstract. Over the past years, Kathrine Ærtebjerg has used text and spray paint on the works, and spray painted elements from the real world. Either from nature, such as leaves, branches and fruit or tools; a saw, a knife, a hammer, chains, scissors, screws, etc. The words she scribbles into the paint refer both to objects from the outside world and human emotions. The outer world and the phenomena, like nature and the tool, and the imagination of the inner world, merge together. The images are composite; beautiful and enigmatic, playful and poetic. They appear subtle and sensitive with an element of both humor and a subtle darkness.
Since Kathrine Ærtebjerg left the Danish Royal Academy of Fine Arts, she has put several museum exhibitions behind her and is, among other things, represented in museums such as the Statens Museum for Art, Aros, Arken, Vejle Art Museum and the Kastrupgårdsamlingen. Intrnational, the Sammlung Essl in Austria can be mentioned. She has received several honorary grants, and not least Ærtebjerg has made a name for herself with the decoration of Frederik VIII’s mansion, Amalienborg and most recently Marselisborg Gymnasium in Aarhus and Aaby library