Henrik Martensen (DK)

Henrik Martensen is an autodidact painter born in 1956 in Odense. Most of his paintings depict the Danish shoreline in gentle shades of blue and grey, the sea and the horizon stretching far out into the distance. His works have a sense of calmness permeating them; the muted, almost monochrome colour scheme, elongated lines, and soft lighting all conjure up an atmosphere of ethereal tranquillity.

“As a Dane, I am used to being close to the ocean and having a seaview from virtually anywhere in the country where I find myself. The feeling of being able to look far into the distance is also reflected in my pictures. One of the places where there really is a sweeping vision, low horizon, and high sky is Fanø. I find many of my motifs here. There is an amazing light which changes all the time, reflections of small people bending down, who practically walk on water, and sand dunes in strange patterns that continue seemingly to infinity. It is the great moments in nature, beauty and light that concern me, and that I have with me when I paint my landscapes… “

Henrik Martensen

“Henrik Martensen’s own unique visual universe is rooted in the romantic landscape painting. That does not mean that Martensen paints in a romantic style, but that he uses the same effects as the traditional romantic landscape painting does, namely in the form of light, air, mist, and fog, and as in the romantic landscape painting Martensen’s works are a projection of subjective feelings, in which a specific atmosphere occurs. … The works by first glance contain a simple and recognizable reality, but it is a reality where realism is always relative; relative because realism, i.e. that which is recognizable, merges with poetry, magic, and a yearning for a more spiritually based world.”

Pia Schou, 2008

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2020 
"Wintershow” GALLERI V58, Aarhus, DK

2018
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
Rotary Art Fair Horsens, Horsens, Denmark
Dronninglund Slot, Vendsyssel, Denmark

2017
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
GALLERI V58 pop up, Skagen, Denmark
Faaborg museum, Faaborg, Denmark
Mana Contemporary, group exhibition, New York, USA

2016
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
Odense Kunstmuseum, Odense, Denmark
Johannes Larsen Museet, Panorama, group exhibition, Kerteminde, Denmark

2015
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
Galleri 5000, Odense, Denmark
Odense Kunstmuseum, Denmark

2014
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark

2013
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
National Banken, Copenhagen, Denmark

2012
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
Cowi Copenhagen, Denmark
Aarhus Hospital, Denmark

2011
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
Arla Foods, Aarhus, Denmark

2010
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark

2009
Galleri Brandebjerg, Nordsjælland, Denmark
Fanø Kunstmuseum, Denmark

2008
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
Art Fair Hillerød, Denmark
Pro KK, group exhibition, Aarhus, Denmark
Galleri Pi, solo exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark

2007
Figuration, group exhibition, Rønnebækholm, Denmark
Albertslund Rådhus, Denmark

2006
Havet og Havne (Sea and Ports), Dronninglund Kunstcenter, Denmark
Horsens Kunstgalleri, solo exhibition, Horsens, Denmark
Galleri Lutterbeker, solo exhibition, Germany
Galleri Pi, solo exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark

2005
Art Fair Herning, Denmark
Figuration, group exhibition, Janusbygningen, Denmark
Figuration, group exhibition, Mjellby Kunstmuseum, Sweden
Nyt Dansk Landskabsmaleri (New Danish Landscape Painting), group exhibition, Astley Hall Museum, England, United Kingdom
Danish Cultural Institute, group exhibition, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

2004
Horsens Kunstgalleri, solo exhibition, Horsens, Denmark
Galleri Pi, solo exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark

2003
Nyt Dansk Landskabsmaleri (New Danish Landscape Painting), group exhibition, Sophienholm, Denmark
Nyt Dansk Landskabsmaleri (New Danish Landscape Painting), group exhibition, Kunstbygningen, Aarhus, Denmark
Galleri Brandebjerg, solo exhibition, Denmark

2002
Kunstmessen Odense, Denmark
Skive Kunstmuseum, Denmark
Galleri den gyldne Løve, solo exhibition, Flensborg, Germany
Galleri Solvognen, solo exhibition, Odense, Denmark
Galleri C, solo exhibition, Aarhus, Denmark
Galleri Pi, solo exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark

2001
Art Fair Hillerød, Denmark
Galleri ved Kirken, solo exhibition, Aarhus, Denmark
Horsens Kunstgalleri, solo exhibition, Horsens, Denmark
Galleri Solvognen, solo exhibition, Odense, Denmark
Galleri Brandebjerg, solo exhibition, Denmark

2000
Vesthimmerlands Easter exhibition, Denmark
European Award of the city of Belgium, Belgium
Art Fair Aarhus, Denmark
Galleri Solvognen, solo exhibition, Odense, Denmark
Galleri Pi, solo exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark

1999
Galleri Sonne, solo exhibition, Aarhus, Denmark

1998
Art Fair Viborg, Denmark
Kunsthistorisk Museum, group exhibition, Randers, Denmark
Horsens Kunstgalleri, solo exhibition, Horsens, Denmark

1997
Galleri Lutterbeker, solo exhibition, Germany
Galleri Provence, solo exhibition, Aalborg, Denmark

1996
Grunhorse, group exhibition, Odense, Denmark
Galleri Lutterbeker, solo exhibition, Germany

1995
Icon 2000, group exhibition, Aarhus, Denmark

1994
Galleri Gerly, solo exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark

1993
Galleri Høeghsberg, solo exhibition, Aarhus, Denmark
Horsens Kunstgalleri, solo exhibition, Horsens, Denmark
Viborg Stiftmuseum, solo exhibition, Denmark

1992
Galleri Gerly, solo exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark

1991
Kunstbygningen Svendborg, Denmark

1990
Galleri Gerly, solo exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark

1989
Nordisk Kunst, group exhibition, Aarhus, Denmark
Galleri Løwe, solo exhibition, Fredericia, Denmark
Galleri ved Kirken, solo exhibition, Aarhus, Denmark

1988
Kunstnernes Hus, group exhibition, Aarhus, Denmark
The Easter Exhibition, Odense, Denmark
Galleri Nøglebæk, solo exhibition, Odense, Denmark

1987
Kunstbygningen Odense, group exhibition, Denmark
Brillegalleriet, solo exhibition, Aarhus, Denmark

1986
Kunstbygningen Odense, group exhibition, Denmark

CENSORED EXHIBITIONS

1998
Kunstnernes Easter exhibition, Aarhus, Denmark

1995
Galleri 12 DR, Aarhus, Denmark

1993
Kunstnernes Easter exhibition, Aarhus, Denmark

1985
Artists’ Summer exhibition, Tistrup, Denmark

1976
Artists’ Easter exhibition, Aarhus, Denmark

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Weilbachs Kunstnerleksikon.
Dansk Kunst.
Jesper Theilgaard: Vær at vide om vejr.
Leo Tandrup: Moderne Danske Kunstværker.
Rune T. Kidde: Rejsen til Alviva.
Nyt Dansk Landskabsmaleri.

DECORATIONS
Psykiatrisk Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
Børnenes Jord, Aarhus, Denmark
Hospice Djursland, Rønde, Denmark

STUDY TRIPS
Greece, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, England, Sweden, Venezuela, Cuba, Macedonia

‘The Slow Runner’, olie på lærred, 90 x 120, 2023, d.kr. 42.000,

‘Early morning’, olie på lærred, 70 x 100, 2020, d.kr. 26.000,

‘Blue Hour’, olie på lærred, 45 x 60, 2023, d.kr. 15.000,

‘The Beach’, olie på lærred, 30 x 40, 2023, d.kr. 10.000,

‘The Revelation’, olie på lærred,70 X 100, 2022, d.kr. 26.000,

‘The Revelation’, olie på lærred, 100 x 150, SOLGT

‘The Collectors’, Olie på lærred, 100x150cm, 2018, SOLGT

‘Fisherman’, Olie på lærred, 30 x 44, 2015, SOLGT

‘Heavy Weather’, olie på lærred, 50 x 70, 2017, d.kr. 18.000,-

‘The Walk’, olie på lærred, 45 x 60, 2016, SOLGT