JØRN LARSEN

Born 1926 († 2004), Næstved, Denmark

Jørn Larsen.

Image courtesy of Bodil Stoltze.

Jørn Larsen was a distinctive Danish visual artist known for his precise, nonfigurative language and his lifelong dedication to order, structure, and clarity. Recognized early for his exceptional drawing skills, he developed a visual universe built on parallel lines that bend, break, and form flat knots, creating a dynamic interplay between plane, figure, and space.

A pivotal stay in Greenland in 1959–60 deepened his fascination with natural structures and strengthened his resolve to break free from them in pursuit of his own artistic universe. From the early 1960s he created black-and-white geometric works and sculptures in marble, granite, and steel. His practice was driven by an uncompromising pursuit of originality – “the less plagiarism, the more art” was a guiding principle throughout his career.

Larsen worked with relentless energy and completed a number of major public commissions. Among his most significant works are the marble floor at Copenhagen Airport, the glass wall at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, the reflecting pool at Thorvaldsens Plads, and the millennium era decoration of Jelling Church, where his characteristic lines appear in both the floor and the south facing window. His work Interstiel, created for the forecourt of the University of Southern Denmark, stands as a culmination of his artistic output.

He debuted at the Artists’ Autumn Exhibition in 1955 and became a member of the artist association Grønningen in 1970. His honors include the Eckersberg Medal (1978) and the Thorvaldsen Medal (1989), and he represented Denmark at the Venice Biennale in 1993. Jørn Larsen passed away in 2004 at the age of 77, leaving behind a disciplined and deeply original body of work.

For more info, please visit:

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