Throughout Autumn and Winter 2024/25, CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art Denmark presents ‘Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl: Cuts, Stripes, and Knots – A Ceramic Retrospective’. Read curator Christina Rauh Oxbøll's essay on the exhibition.
This monograph presents Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl’s experimental work in clay sculpture. His compositions and materializations are the result of intuitive improvisations and a direct yet subtle response to material and spatial qualities. Kaldahl has worked with a myriad of spatial themes and ornaments that frequently reappear in his formal vocabulary, and which arise out of a methodical, gradual, and experimental process. This catalogue includes an introductory essay by Brooklyn-based curator, writer, and historian Glenn Adamson. Copenhagen-based writer and curator Jorunn Veiteberg draws connections to contemporary and historical developments with ceramic practices in fine art and craft. Further, Kaldahl’s own voice is present in the publication in a number of highly engaging statements.
Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl is the recepient of an award from the Danish Arts Foundation for his exhibition Cuts, Stripes, and Knots – A Ceramic Retrospective at the CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art in Denmark.
For more than five decades, ceramicist Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl has created works with a strong physical presence and restless energy. His upcoming exhibition Cuts, Stripes and Knots at the CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art Denmark will be the largest retrospective of his life's work to date.
Art lovers and collectors often look forward to Independent New York’s annual fair because of its curated selection of invitation-only works from artists working across the world and represented by international galleries.
This year’s 15th anniversary edition at Spring Studios in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood won’t disappoint with 37 galleries, of a total of 88, coming to the fair for the first time. Many will bring artists who are having their New York debut.
The Independent art fair has named the 77 exhibitors that will participate in its upcoming New York edition, which is scheduled to run May 9–12 at Spring Studios in Tribeca. As was the case last year, Independent will not align with Frieze New York, which is to be staged the week prior.
The 2024 iteration of Independent marks its 15th anniversary, with its first edition held at the former Dia building in Chelsea in 2010 during Armory Week.
Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl is a ceramic artist based in Copenhagen, Denmark. He has worked with a myriad of spatial themes and ornaments that frequently reoccur in his formal vocabulary, and which emerge through a methodical, gradual and experimental serial process. Notably, the knot as a shape has been a leitmotif offering possibilities for various sinuous rhythmic cadences and abstract narratives. The hand built architectonic works appear as ‘spatial drawings’–solid, twisting and turning through space. Kaldahl’s interest also lies in the potential of the object to make a direct emotional impact on the viewer. The motif is always clear in its simplicity and easily decoded while remaining open to interpretations.
Join us for a virtual talk with Glenn Adamson and Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl, on the eve of Kaldahl's solo exhibition Probing the Floor, Sniffing the Air.
MARTIN BODILSEN KALDAHL
b. 1954, Denmark
EDUCATION
1990
Royal College of Art, London, England
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024–25
Cuts, Stripes and Knots: A Ceramic Retrospective, CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art, Middelfart, Denmark
2023
Probing the Floor, Sniffing the Air, HB381, New York, USA
2022
Digressions Tubulaires, Galerie NeC, Paris, France
2020
Spatial Drawings, Taste Contemporary, Geneva, Switzerland
2018
Spatial Drawings, Ann Linnemann Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2017
Spatial Drawings, Galerie NeC, Paris, France
2016
Possible Gestures, Gallery Format, Oslo, Norway
2014
X-Scapes, Copenhagen Ceramics, Denmark
New Works, Galerie NeC, Paris, France
2012
Other Objects, Copenhagen Ceramics Exhibition Space, Denmark
2011
Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl, Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
Stump – the Lobbed Branch, Ann Linnemann Studio Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2008
The Digital Clay, Danish Museum of Art and Design, Copenhagen, Denmark
2005
Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl, Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
2003
Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl, Gallery Nørby, Copenhagen, Denmark
Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl, Clara Scremini Gallery, Paris, France
2002
Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl, Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
2001
Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl, Clara Scremini Gallery, Paris, France
2000
Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl, Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
1999
Udstillingssted for Ny Keramik, Copenhagen, Denmark
1997
Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl, Gallery Nørby, Copenhagen
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025
Contemporary Danish Ceramic, Messums West Art Gallery, Salisbury, UK
2023
Ceramic Constructions, Hjorths Fabrik, Rønne, Denmark
Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl & Sho Ota, Peach Corner Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl & Paul Gaffney, Taste Contemporary, Geneva, Switzerland
2021
Matter at Hand, Hostler Burrows, New York and Los Angeles, USA
Bend, Bubble and Shine, Hostler Burrows, New York and Los Angeles, USA
Odd & Even, Maison Louis Carré, Paris, France
Wunderkammer, Peach Corner Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2019
Five Cubed, Taste Contemporary, Geneva, Switzerland
100 Years of Danish Ceramics, Sophieholm, Denmark
Group Exhibition, Marsden Woo Gallery, London, England
Ceramic Momentum – Staging the Object, CLAY Museum, Middelfart, Denmark
2018
Marsden Woo Gallery, London, England
2017
Danish Design at the House, Sydney Opera House, Australia
2016
Hot Danes, Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium
Copenhagen Ceramics Invites, Galeria Salvatore Lanteri, Milan, Italy
2015
Marsden Woo Gallery, London, England
Random Growth, Sarah Myerscough Gallery, London, England
2012
European Union Council Building, Brussels, Belgium
2011
Living with Ceramics, Puls Gallery and Ambersand House, Brussels, Belgium
2010
Contemporary British Studio Ceramics - The Granier Collection, Mint Museum, Charlotte, USA
KOM, Cypres Gallery, Leuven, Denmark
Ceramics, Art Museum of Skandeborg, Denmark
Danish Ceramics, Mariagerfjord Kunstforening, Hobro, Denmark
2007
END. An International Ceramics Exhibition Project, Danish Museum of Art and Design, Bomuldsfabriken Kunstal, Arendal, Norway
Drud and Køppe Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Biennial for Crafts and Design, Trapholt Art Museum, Denmark
2006
Musée Magnelli, Vallauris, France
2005
Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, USA
2004
Clara Scremini Gallery, Paris, France
SUPER DANISH, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto
2003
Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth, Traveling European Exhibition 2003-07
Gallery Nørby, Copenhagen, Denmark
2002
From the Kilns of Denmark, Traveling Exhibition, 2002-04
Le Tradition de Demain – Innovation au Quotidien, La Masion du Denmark, Paris, France
2000
Danish Porcelain 1775-2000, The Danish Museum of Decorative Arts, Copenhagen, Denmark
Tableware of the Future, Royal Scandinavia A/S Showrooms, Copenhagen and Trapholt, Denmark
1999
Keramik aus Dänemark, Munich, Germany
National Arts Council Exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark
1997
Danish Ceramics 1850-1997, Sophienholm, Denmark
1996
Clara Scremini Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Danish Art and Design, St. Petersburg, Russia
1994
Charlottenborg Efterårsudstilling, Copenhagen, Denmark
Inaugural Exhibition, Grimmerhus Ceramics Museum
1993
Young Contemporaries, Copenhagen, Denmark
AWARDS
Annie and Otto Johs. Detlefs Ceramics Prize
Inga and Eyvind Kold-Christensen Foundation Honorary Award
Ole Haslunds Kunstnerfond Honorary Award
The Sotheby Award, Collect, London, United Kingdom
The Danish National Bank Jubilee Fund
National Arts Council, Denmark
Crafts Council Annual Award, Denmark (Kunsthåndværkerrådets Årspris)
The Design Foundation, Ministry of Culture, Denmark
The National Arts Council Grant, Denmark
Danish Contemporary Art Foundation
The Sir Eduardo Paolozzi Travel Scholarship, RCA
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Victoria & Albert Museum, London, United Kingdom
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France
Danish Museum of Art and Design, Copenhagen, Denmark
National Museum, Oslo, Norway
Röhsska Museet, Gothenburg, Sweden
MIMA, Middlesborough Institute of Modern Art, United Kingdom
Danish Arts Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
Trapholt Art Museum, Denmark
CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art, Middelfart, Denmark
The Arts Association of 14 August, Denmark
Annie and Otto Johs. Detlefs Foundation, Denmark
Diane and Marc Grainer Collection, USA
MEMBERSHIPS
AIC / IAC - International Academy of Ceramics
