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Carl-Henning Pedersen
Carl-Henning Pedersen
d'Angleterre is honoured to be exhibiting a curated selection of artworks by the renowned Danish artist Carl-Henning Pedersen. The paintings are on loan from Carl-Henning Pedersens Fond and will adorn the hotel for five years, from 2025 to 2030.
The colourful paintings are on display in the main hallways, and the grandest piece “Pigerne fra Helsingør” (The Girls from Elsinore) can be seen on the stairway from the Lobby to the first floor.
About the artist:
Carl-Henning Pedersen (1913–2007) ranks among the leading voices in Danish modernism and played a vital role in the CoBrA movement. His artistic language is marked by a dreamlike, poetic universe rich in colour and layered with personal symbolism.
Throughout a prolific career, Pedersen built an impressive artistic legacy that has left a lasting imprint on Danish art and earned him global recognition. He is celebrated for his imaginative, fairy-tale-like imagery, often populated by floating figures, radiant blues, and recurring symbols such as birds, horses, suns, and ships.
Originally aspiring to become a composer or architect, Pedersen shifted his focus to painting after meeting fellow artist Else Alfelt at a folk high school. The two debuted together in 1936 and soon became pivotal figures in Denmark’s early abstract movement, contributing to influential artist groups like Linien, Høstudstillingen, and CoBrA.
Pedersen's distinct, expressive style, deeply inspired by abstraction, won him numerous accolades, including the Eckersberg Medal in 1950, the Guggenheim Award in 1958, and the honour of representing Denmark at the 1962 Venice Biennale. His large public commissions, such as works for the H.C. Ørsted Institute and Ribe Cathedral, further solidified his stature in the art world.
Following Alfelt’s death in 1974, he married photographer Sidsel Ramson, entering a new phase in his career characterized by even more vibrant colours and creative freedom. Pedersen spent many years living and working in France and became known for his generosity, donating numerous works to museums both in Denmark and internationally.
At the moment, 16 paintings are on display. Nine more paintings will be added to the exhibition shortly. All 25 paintings are owned by Carl-Henning Pedersens Fond and will return to the foundation's care after the five-year exhibition at d'Angleterre.