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Ole Aakjær

Ole Aakjær

Ole Aakjær - Artists - Chase Contemporary

Ole Aakjær (b. 1962) is a Copenhagen-based, internationally-renowned watercolor and ink artist best known for large-format, highly symbolic works that celebrate the power of women. His distinct figurative paintings rely on bold colors and symbols to convey deep psychological empathy, while exploring the complexity and strength of their subjects. Ornate ink work comes into play with tattoos often sprawled across the face, neck, shoulders, and upper body. Text and characters, inspired by music, literature, poetry, film, religion, psychology, and cartoons are painstakingly applied with ink.

Influenced by comic book writers and artists Milo Manara, Enki Bilal, and Jean Giraud (pseudonym Moebius), Aakjær in the mid-1980s published an album at Carlsen, Denmark's main comic book publisher at the time, fulfilling his childhood dream. He operated an illustration studio since 1992. After 25 years as CEO of his own advertising and design agency, Aakjær was burnt out creatively. Reclaiming his childhood fascination and playfulness, he turned to watercolor painting in 2014. With a brazen nod to his previous career in his use of oversized keywords, Aakjaer’s large scale watercolors and techniques are unparalleled. The combination of ink and watercolor require great mastery as there is no room for error or corrections. The desired result must be achieved on the first application. This is in many ways the poetry of the watercolour – and of Ole Aakjær’s work.

International success came quickly, when Aakjær’s first paintings sold and his first solo exhibition sold out. Many subsequent shows in Montreal, Oslo, Paris, and London, sold out, leading to an international breakthrough and permanent gallery representation in Coppenhagen, New York, Paris, and Montreal. His first solo museum exhibition was held at the Vejle Kunstmuseum, Jutland, Denmark, in 2021. Upcoming solo museum exhibitions include the Chinese Contemporary Art Museum, Chongqing, China, in 2022. Aakjær has participated in more than 70 solo and group exhibitions since 2014. The artist lives and works in Denmark.

 

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CV

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2020
MONOLOGUE ABOUT LOVE Galerie LeRoyer, Montréal, Québec, Canada

2019
PINK SOUL Chase Contemporary, New York, USA
FOCUS Galerie LeRoyer, Montréal, Québec, Canada
LE CHANT DES SIRÈNES Galerie 55 Bellechasse, Paris, France

2018
UNTOLD STORIES Chase Contemporary, New York, USA
COMPLICATED FLOWERS Galerie LeRoyer, Montréal, Québec, Canada
STRANGE BIRDS Gallery Moderne Silkeborg, Denmark
BRØNDSALEN Frederiksberg, (Oxholm Gallery), Denmark

2017
SOLO Gallery Ramfjord, Olso, Norway
FEMME TATTOUÉE Galerie 55 Bellechasse, Paris, France
POP UP Exhibition Oxholm Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
DECORATION ASSIGNMENT, Rosborg Gymnasium & HF, Vejle, Denmark
ART HERNING Gallery Moderne Silkeborg, Denmark

2016
OLE AAKJÆR SOLO Oxholm Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
LIQUID PEOPLE Gallery Hjorth, Horsens, Denmark
GUNLEIF GRUBE + OLE AAKJÆR Oxholm Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

2015
PAINTED SOUL Oxholm Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
VERNER BREMS & OLE AAKJÆR Møllen Gallery, Vejle, Denmark
OLE AAKJÆR SOLO TV2, Kvægtorvet, Odense, Denmark

2014
NEW DRAWINGS AND WATERCOLOURS Bolchefabrikken, Vejle, Denmark

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2020
ART ODENSE Oxholm Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
SUMMER AT GALLERI OXHOLM Oxholm Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
SECOND SKIN Galerie LeRoyer, Montreal, Québec, Canada

2019
THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SHOW Oxholm Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
PŮLSÅTING - MULTIPLIED THROUGH WATER Ole Aakjaer & Sky Kim, Oxholm Gallery, Denmark
SUMMER GROUP EXHIBITION Chase Contemporary, New York, USA
IN HER IMAGE Chase Contemporary, New York, USA

2018
SUMMER OF 2018 Oxholm Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
SUMMER IN SILKEBORG Gallery Moderne Silkeborg, Denmark
GROUP SHOW - SPRING 2018 Oxholm Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
DANISH & INTERNATIONAL EASTER EXHIBITION Gallery Moderne Silkeborg, Denmark
ART ON PAPER Galerie 55 Bellechasse, Paris, FranceÀ
ART HERNING Gallery Moderne Silkeborg, Denmark

2017
CHRISTMAS SHOW Oxholm Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
FORZA Galerie LeRoyer, Montréal, Québec, Canada
SUMMER EXHIBITION Gallery Moderne Silkeborg, Denmark
EASTER EXHIBITION Gallery Moderne Silkeborg, Denmark

2016
Oxholm Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
SUMMER EXHIBITION Gallery Moderne Silkeborg, Denmark
NORTH ART Hjorth Gallery, Horsens, Denmark
SPRING EXHIBITION A Gallery, Lønstrup, Denmark

2015
THE FIFTY FEW Oxholm Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark