Kirsten Ortwed facts for kids
Kirsten Møller Ortwed was born in Denmark on May 28, 1948. She is a famous artist known for her amazing sculptures. Today, she lives and works in Cologne, Germany. Kirsten Ortwed creates art that you can see in public places. She often uses interesting mixes of materials in her sculptures.
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Becoming an Artist
Kirsten Ortwed was born in a town called Virum. She started painting when she was just 13 years old. She really wanted to study art at a special academy. In 1965, she traveled all over Europe by herself.
When she came back, she became interested in the avant-garde movement in Copenhagen. This was a new and exciting art style. In 1967, she started learning about weaving and textile art. She later studied painting at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts from 1970 to 1975.
Her Art Career
After a trip to New York in 1976, Kirsten Ortwed traveled to Mexico, Morocco, and Egypt. In 1982, she moved to Cologne, Germany. She felt the art scene there was a better fit for her.
In 1996, she began working in Pietrasanta, Italy. This town is famous for its large marble quarries. Here, she started to focus on making sculptures.
Sculptures and Materials
Kirsten Ortwed creates large sculptures. These works often have many parts. They can spread out like islands in a space. Her art often explores ideas like presence and absence. It also looks at how light and heavy things can be.
She uses many different materials in her art. Sometimes she uses traditional materials like bronze and plaster. But she also uses unusual things, like parts that are already made. This mix of materials helps her show how shapes and spaces relate to each other. Some of her famous works include Blind Date (1996) and Risks Run (1994).
In 1997, Kirsten Ortwed represented Denmark at the Venice Biennale. This is a very important art exhibition. The next year, she won a competition. She was chosen to create a monument for Raoul Wallenberg in Stockholm. Her art has been shown in many places. These include Scandinavia, Germany, France, and the United States.
Selected Works
Here are some of Kirsten Ortwed's sculptures you can see:
Public Artworks
- Brønden, Aars, Denmark (1995–96)
- Ædeltårnet, Kirketorvet, Aars, Denmark (1995–96)
- Raoul Wallenberg Monument, Stockholm, Sweden (2001)
- Terra Vento, Clarion Hotel, Stockholm (2003)
- Stene til gårdrum, Frederiksberg Gymnasium, Copenhagen, Denmark (2000–04)
- Syntax, Sölvegatan, Lund University, Lund, Sweden (2000–04)
- Sektion, Lund University, Lund, Sweden (2000–04)
- Platform, East Jutland State Prison, Horsens, Denmark (2004–06)
- Beringsøen, Kirketorvet, Horsens, Denmark (2007)
- Full Length, Havnegade, Copenhagen, Denmark (2016)
- 14–7–2006, Nesparken, Moss, Norway (2016)
Art in Museums
- Full length, Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, Denmark (2006–08)
Awards and Recognition
Kirsten Ortwed has received several important awards for her art. In 1995, she was given the Eckersberg Medal. In 2002, she received the Thorvaldsen Medal. These awards show how much her work is valued in the art world.
