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Titel
About
Ruth Campau (b. 1955) is known for creating ambitious large-scale paintings that redefine our sense of architecture. She works with abstract painting, where color, space and process are her materials. The artist draws the viewer in close to her characteristic, long, vertical strokes, which she applies with her signature brushwork. Campau lives and works in Copenhagen. Her work is represented in several private and public collections, including ARKEN – Museum of Contemporary Art, Kunsten Museum of Modern Art in Aalborg, and Malmö Art Museum. In 2020, Campau received the lifelong honorary grant from the Danish Arts Foundation for her persistent and extensive work.
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Biography
2000 - 2005 | Studies in Art History at the Open University, Copenhagen |
2002 | Became a member of the Danish Artists’ Society |
2006 | Became a member of the artist association Grønningen |
2006 - 2009 | Art consultant and member (appointed by the Academy Council) of the advisory committee of UBST/The Danish University and Property Agency |
2009 - 2010 | Art consultant for the Municipality of Guldborgsund’s new business center in Eskilstrup, Denmark (appointed by The Danish Arts Foundation) |
2005 - 2011 | Member of the Danish Academy Council and Danish Artist’s Society’s Jury (chairman 2008-2011) |
2011 - 2017 | Member of The Danish Royal Academy of Fine Arts |
2013 - 2017 | Member of The Academy Council |
2017 - 2022 | Board member at Overgaden Institute of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen |
2020 - | Board member at the artist association Grønningen |
2025 - | Advisory Board member, Erhvervslivets Kulturpris |
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Public Collections
ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art, Ishøj, Denmark | |
KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg, Denmark | |
Bornholm Art Museum, Gudhjem, Denmark | |
Esbjerg Art Museum, Esbjerg, Denmark | |
Randers Art Museum, Randers, Denmark | |
Kastrupgaardsamlingen, Kastrup, Denmark | |
MAPS Museum of Art in Public Space, Køge, Denmark | |
Kupferstich-Kabinett, Die Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen, Dresden, Germany | |
Malmø Art Museum, Malmø, Sweden | |
Danish Arts Foundation, Denmark | |
The New Carlsberg Foundation, Denmark |
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Group Exhibitions (selected)
2025 | Det maleriske i kobbertrykket, Kastrupgårdsamlingen, Kastrup, Denmark |
2025 | YOU AND ME, Galerie Feldbusch Wiesner Rudolph FWR, Berlin, Germany |
2025 | Gravity Rainbow, Galerie Nord, Kunstverein Tiergarten, Berlin, Germany |
2024 | NEW AGE - a CDF Tribute Show, Galerie Hartwich, Rügen, Germany |
2024 | Abstract Sensibility, Gallery 2112, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2024 | Selected, Gallery DGV, Svendborg, Denmark |
2023 | Grønningen, Den Frie Udstillingsbygning, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2023 | SHIFT, Künstlerhaus Sootbürn, Hamburg |
2022 | Boundary River, Galleri DGV, Svendborg, Denmark (duo-show) |
2022 | Jubilæum 5, Ringsted Galleriet, Denmark |
2021 | GO WEST, Kunsthal Kongegaarden, Korsør, Denmark |
2021 | Grønningen, Den Frie Udstillingsbygning, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2020 | Interdimensionale II, Gammelgaard, Herlev, Denmark |
2020 | Grønningen, Den Frie, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2019 | Gallery DGV, Villa Tårnborg, Svendborg, Denmark |
2019 | Grønningen, Kunstforeningen Gl Strand, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2017 | Cool, Calm and Collected, AROS Aarhus Art Museum, Aarhus, Denmark |
2017 | Neue Abstraktion, Deutcher Kunstlerbund, Berlin, Germany |
2017 | REVISIT: EROTIK, Overgaden, Institute for Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2017 | Grønningen, Den Frie, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2017 | Hvad gør kunst på hospitaler, KØS Museum of Art in Public Spaces, Køge, Denmark |
2017 | RNPG - COPENHAGEN, reductive non-objective private gallery, OK Corral, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2017 | Downshifting, RedLine Art Center, Denver, USA |
2017 | Idealer, Randers Art Museum, Denmark |
2017 | Idealer, Esbjerg Art Museum, Denmark |
2016 | Idealer, Fuglsang Art Museum, Denmark |
2016 | Fibbonacci Sequence, Francis Boeske Project, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
2015 | Self Storage, Another Space, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2015 | Qvartet, Esbjerg Art Museum, Esbjerg, Denmark |
2015 | Eccentric Abstraction, Feldbuschwiesner Galerie, Berlin, Germany |
2015 | Grønningen, Den Frie Udstillingsbygning, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2014 | Edition Norm Issue Nº3 / 2014, Berlin, Germany |
2014 | Transparent – Between the Base and the Surface, Gallery Charlotte Fogh, Aarhus, Denmark |
2014 | Pragmatic Painting, Gallery Hartwich, Rügen, Germany |
2014 | CRYSTALLINE, Gallery DGV, Villa Tårnborg, Svendborg, Denmark |
2014 | PS 1999-2014 / A 15 YEARS ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION, PS Projectspace, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
2013 | Baltic Sea Record 2013, Stadtgalerie Kiel, Germany |
2013 | ZIEGEN ZEIGEN. An Audio Tour through Copenhagen by Karin Sander Kunsthallen Nikolaj, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2013 | Form - Signage, Sophienholm, Lyngby, Denmark |
2013 | Sculpture by the Sea, Aarhus Waterfront, Denmark |
2013 | Arkitektonisk Stuegang, Designmuseet Danmark, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2013 | Giv os i dag…Når kunsten går i kirke, Museet for Religiøs Kunst, Lemvig, Denmark |
2012 | Giv os i dag…Når kunsten går i kirke, KØS Museum of Art in Public Spaces Køge, Denmark |
2012 | Co Lab, The Barker Hangar, Los Angeles, USA |
2012 | Shaped by Time, The National Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2012 | Robert Jacobsen up to date, Esbjerg Art Museum, Denmark |
2012 | Landing, Teksas exhibition space, Græsted, Denmark |
2012 | Ostrale, Dresden, Germany |
2012 | Land of the seven moles, PS projectspace, Amsterdam, the Netherlands |
2012 | Grønningen, Docken, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2012 | Arkitektonisk Stuegang, Kunstcentret Silkeborg Bad, Denmark |
2011 | Visitation, Galerie Hartwich, Sellin, Rügen, Germany |
2011 | Crisp & Shout, Gallery KANT, Esbjerg, Denmark |
2010 | Preview, Tempelhof, Berlin, Germany |
2010 | Grønningen, Docken Nordhavnen, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2010 | Vråudstillingen, Kunstbygningen in Vrå, Denmark |
2010 | North, Galerie Hartwich, Sellin, Rügen, Germany |
2008 | ROUNDABOUT, Contemporary Exhibition Space, Berlin, Germany |
2008 | Grønningen, Bornholm Art Museum, Denmark |
2007 | Grønningen, Charlottenborg Exhibition Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2007 | Young Blood, PS Projectspace, Amsterdam, the Netherlands |
2006 | Now here and never again, Den Frie Udstillingsbygning, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2006 | Grønningen, Charlottenborg Exhibition Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2005 | SPLASH, BOX 2.0, Copenhagen, Denmark (with architect Mette Skjold (Denmark) and visual artist Gerold Miller (Germany)) |
2005 | Duschkonst, Galleri Leger, Malmö, Sweden |
2005 | Standard, Århus Exhibition Space, Denmark |
2005 | Grønningen, Charlottenborg Exhibition Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2004 | Farbfilm 2004 - Abstraktion III, Kunstverein Schloss Plön & Schloss Plüschow, Niedenstein, Germany |
2003 | Horizontal Open, Galleri Tom Christoffersen, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2003 | Vierzig mal, Kunstverein Rügen, Putbus, Germany |
2003 | Norther Malerei, Galerie Hartwich, Sellin, Rügen, Germany |
2001 | Efterårsudstillingen, Autumn Exhibition, Charlottenborg Exhibition Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2001 | I:I, Herning Art Museum, Herning, Denmark |
2001 | Norther Malerei, Galerie Hartwich, Sellin, Rügen, Germany |
2000 | Picture This, North Exhibition Space, Copenhagen, Denmark |
1999 | PAINTBOX, Copenhagen, Denmark |
1999 | Originals, North Exhibition Space, Copenhagen, Denmark |
1999 | Ringsted Galleriet (with Michael Mørk and Lisbeth Lyrstrand), Ringsted, Denmark |
1998 | Forårsudstillingen, Charlottenborg Exhibition Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark |
1997 | Forårsudstillingen, Charlottenborg Exhibition Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark |
1995 | Horizonline, Castle of Pomeranian Dukes, Szczecin, Poland |
1992 | Galleri Eva Marker, Copenhagen, Denmark |
1991 | The Young Artists Creative Triennial of Baltic States, Vilnius, Lithuania |
1991 | Forårsudstillingen, Charlottenborg Exhibition Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark |
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Solo Exhibitions (selected)
2022 | ÉNTRE, Bow and Bend, Galerie Gebr. Lehmann, Dresden, Germany |
2022 | Sunset Boulevard, Bornholm Art Museum, Denmark |
2019 | Fielding, Caspar David Friedrich Zentrum, Greifswald, Germany |
2019 | The Fall of Diamond Dust, Feldbusch Wiesner Rudolph Gallery, Berlin, Germany |
2018 | Big G, Kernel Gallery, Cáceres, Spain |
2017 | Chicago Mountains, Gether Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2016 | Cuts 'N Blobs, Petra Gut Contemporary, Zürich, Switzerland |
2016 | Imagine Gold, Feldbusch Wiesner Galerie, Berlin, Germany |
2015 | Interstellar, Gether Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2015 | Between the Past and the Coming, Overgaden, Institut for Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2014 | Vertical, Marianne Friis Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2013 | Open Studios, ISCP, New York, USA |
2011 | Pearl, PS Projectspace, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
2011 | Velvet Mirror and Diamonds, Asbaek AAC Showroom, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2010 | Mit Museum, KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg, Denmark |
2007 | Neighbourhood & Grass, Brænderigården, Viborg, Denmark |
2006 | The Well, Site-specific project for SALEN, Kunsthallen GL STRAND, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2006 | Curtain, Ostseebad Sellin, Rügen, Germany |
2005 | Galerie Hartwich Rügen, Germany |
2004 | SPACE BAR, Paintbox extensions, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2004 | 70.02 Read yourself, Traneudstilling, Gentofte Main Library, Denmark |
2004 | Kan et Figentræ Bære Oliven? [Can a Fig Tree Bear forth the Olive?], Art project, Østerbro Provsti (Deanery), Copenhagen, Denmark |
- Altar Garden, Lundehus Church | |
- Resurrection, Hans Egede’s Church | |
- Every Color You Are, Frihavn’s Church | |
2001 | For example, Broadway Pink - 150 cm wide, Autumn Exhibition, Charlottenborg Exhibition Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2001 | Yellow. Red. Cigar, Overgaden, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2000 | Window painting / Window space, Window Space, Copenhagen, Denmark |
2000 | Spiritual Kitchen, PAINTBOX, Copenhagen, Denmark |
1999 | Evergreen, Rampen, Copenhagen, Denmark |
1998 | An Installation of Painting, North Exhibition Space, Copenhagen, Denmark |
1996 | Humid Zone, Overgaden, Copenhagen, Denmark |
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Site-specific Projects in Public Space
2023 - 2028 | Something In The Way We Move, large-scale painting for Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup, Denmark. Curated by Creator Projects. |
2024 | Øjets Nektar (Nectar for the Eye), art project at department store ILLUM, Copenhagen, Denmark. |
2023 - | OS - Landet, Vandet, Byen, commissioned artwork for Vordingborg City Hall, Denmark. |
2019 - 2023 | Des Wind im Baumstelle, commission for railings and stairway at housing complex by Wannsee, Berlin, Germany. Collaboration with Stofanel, Berlin. |
2020 | Klostertorv Boogie Woogie, site-specific public artwork for Klostertorv, Aarhus, Denmark. Collaboration between ARoS Art Museum and Lys på Aarhus, Municipality of Aarhus. |
2016 - 2021 | Handwoven Stories from the Colorfields Make the Blanket Warm, site-specific decoration for Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark. |
2018 - 2020 | Every Color You Are, site-specific decoration for psychiatric hospital in Borås, Sweden. Collaboration with architect firm White, Sweden. Developer: Västfastigheter, Sweden. |
2017 - 2018 | Boogie Woogie Palace, interior for Randers Art Museum, Randers, Denmark. |
2013 - 2014 | Concrete Poetry, site-specific decoration for atrium at VUC, Vejle Campus, Denmark. |
2014 | NUL Ét, decoration for UNI:C, National Agency for IT and Learning, the Danish Ministry of Education, Copenhagen, Denmark. |
2013 - 2014 | Lottes Prisme, site-specific decoration for nursing home LOTTE, Copenhagen, Denmark. Developer: OK Fonden. |
2013 | ATLAS I-V, site-specific decoration for nursing home Bertram Knudsens Have, Kolding, Denmark. |
2012 | Every Color You Are (vol II), decoration for foyer at Civilstyrelsen, Copenhagen. |
2011 | Puzzle, site-specific decoration of reception area at the law firm LETT, Copenhagen, Denmark. |
2011 | Atlas, site-specific decoration of reception area at the office hotel First Clients, Copenhagen, Denmark. |
2007 - 2008 | Contemplation, site-specific decoration of the church at the National Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. Architect: Mathilde Petri. Building owner: The National Hospital. Donation by The New Carlsberg Foundation. |
2007 - 2008 | The Weather Report, site-specific decoration of the foyer at VKR Holding A/S, Hørsholm, Denmark. Building owner: VKR Holding A/S. |
2007 - | Fleet House, site-specific decoration of office building’s façade, Fleet Street, London, United Kingdom. Collaboration with architect firm C.F. Møller. Developer: Landsecurities. |
2006 - 2007 | Olympic Boogie Woogie, site-specific decoration of foyer and lounge, Idrættens Hus, Brøndby, Denmark. Architect: Claus Francke. Building owner: DIF, Sports Confederation of Denmark. |
2006 - 2007 | Playground, site-specific decoration for Torsted School, Horsens, Denmark. Architect: Arkitema. Building owner: Municipality of Horsens. |
2005 - 2006 | Inventor Sheets, site-specific decoration at Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen, Tåstrup, Denmark. Architect: Nymand + Ravn. Building owner: Slots- og Ejendomsstyrelsen. |
2006 | Blue, Rosengaard Shopping Mall, Odense, Denmark. |
2006 | I Will Be Your First Factory, site-specific decoration for the First Factory knitwear factory, Herning, Denmark. |
2004 | I Will Be Your Mirror, site-specific decoration for Aalborg University – Esbjerg Campus, Denmark. Architect: Kjær og Richter. Building owner: UBST/Universitets- og Bygningsstyrelsen. |
2004 - 2006 | Oksbøl Color Base, site-specific decoration of 5 quarters at the Oksbøl Camp, Denmark. Architect: Arkitema. Developer: Forsvarets Bygningstjeneste. |
2002 - 2006 | Nordlyset, site-specific decoration for residential housing complex on Amerikakaj, Copenhagen, Denmark. Collaboration with architect firm C.F. Møller. Developer: JM Danmark. |
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Competitions & Sketches
2023 - 2028 | Something In The Way We Move, large-scale painting for Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup, Denmark. Curated by Creator Projects. |
2024 | Øjets Nektar (Nectar for the Eye), Art project at department store ILLUM, Copenhagen, Denmark. |
2023 - | OS - Landet, Vandet, Byen, Commissioned artwork for Vordingborg City Hall, Denmark. |
2022 | NYKREDIT, Svanemølleholmen, Copenhagen. Building owner: Nykredit. |
2020 | Klostertorv, site-specific public artwork for Klostertorv, Aarhus, Denmark. Collaboration between ARoS Art Museum and Lys på Aarhus, Municipality of Aarhus. |
2017 | Psykiatrins Kvarter, Borås. Building owner: Västfastigheter. Architect: White Architects, Göteborg. |
2015 | Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark. Building owner: Region Vestegnen. Architect: Schmidt, Hammer og Lassen. |
2011 | Haraldsgadekvarteret, Copenhagen Municipality Renewal District, Denmark. |
2009 | Novo Nordisk, Bagsværd, Denmark. |
2009 | Rambøll Headquarter, Ørestaden, Denmark. Building owner: Rambøll A/S. Architect: Dissing & Weitling. |
2008 | Halden Fængsel, Oslo, Norway. Building owner: Statens Kunstfond KORO (The Norwegian Arts Foundation). Architect: Erik Møllers Tegnestue. |
2008 | Aalborg Havn, Denmark. Building owner: Aalborg Kommune (Municipality of Aalborg). |
2008 | Nordlyskatedralen, Alta, Norway. Building owner: Alta Kommune (Municipality of Alta). Architect: Schmidt, Hammer & Lassen. |
2007 | Lisbjerg School, Århus, Denmark. Building owner: Århus Kommune (Municipality of Aarhus). Architect: Kjær og Richter. |
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Curatorial Activities
2021 | GO WEST, Kunsthal Kongegaarden, Korsør, Denmark. |
2004 - 2005 | BOX 2.0 Art and Architecture in Collaboration, Vognmagergade 2, Copenhagen, Denmark. Initiator and co-curator (with visual artist Michael Mørk and architect Gitte Johannesen). |
2003 - 2004 | Kan et Figentræ Bære Oliven? CAN A FIG TREE BEAR FORTH THE OLIVE?, Østerbro Provsti (Deanery), Copenhagen, Denmark. Initiator and co-curator (with parish minister Anne-Mette Gravgaard). |
2003 - 2004 | PAINTBOX extensions, Vognmagergade 2, Copenhagen, Denmark. Initiator and co-curator (with visual artist Michael Mørk and art historian Trine Møller Madsen). |
1999 - 2000 | PAINTBOX, Bredgade 65, Copenhagen, Denmark. Initiator and co-arranger (with visual artist Michael Mørk). |
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Honorary Stipends, Prizes & Awards
2024 | International Architectural Awards for Residential Building at Griebnitzsee, Berlin, Germany. Collaboration with Stofanel and Tchoban Voss Architects. |
2023 | Nordlyset awarded by The Danish Club for TOP 50 Artworks for Public Spaces. |
2020 | Lifelong Honorary Grant from The Danish Arts Foundation. |
2018 | Eckersberg Medal, honorary award. |
2018 | Artist of the Year 2018, honorary appointment at KØS Museum of Art in Public Spaces, Køge. |
2015 | Ole Haslunds Kunstnerfond, honorary stipend. |
2015 | Residency at Accademia di Danimarca, Rome, Italy. |
2015 | 15. Juni Fonden grant. |
2015, 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 | The Danish Arts Foundation’s honorary one-year work grants. |
2013 | Residency at ISCP (International Studio and Curatorial Program), New York, USA. |
2012 | Residency at Can Lis, Mallorca, supported by The Danish Arts Foundation. |
2012 | Mogens Zielers Fond, honorary stipend. |
2013, 2009, 2001, 1996 | Grosserer L.F. Foghts Fond grants. |
2008 | The Danish Arts Foundation, 3-year stipend. |
2008 | Residency in New York, supported by Bikuben Foundation. |
2007 | The Danish Arts Foundation, travel stipend. |
2007 | Anne Marie Telmanyi født Carl-Nielsen Fond, honorary stipend. |
2006 | Nominated for Mies van der Rohe Prize for Nordlyset. |
2006 | Winner of "Building of the Year" for Nordlyset, awarded by *Byggeri* magazine. |
2005 | Fru Andrea Jensen og Prins Jørgens Legat, honorary stipend. |
2004 | Prize of honor awarded by The Danish Arts Foundation. |
2003 | Marie & Victor Haagen-Müllers Fond, honorary stipend. |
2002 | Aage og Yelva Nimbs Fond, honorary stipend. |
2002 | Akademiraadets Understøttelsesfond grant. |
2001 | Henry Heerups Legat, honorary stipend. |
2001, 1998, 1996 | Akademiraadets Legat til Yngre Kunstnere grants. |
2000, 1996 | Copenhagen’s Culture Foundation grants. |
1999 | Prize of honor awarded by The Danish Arts Foundation. |
1996 | Irgens-Berghs Kunstnerlegat. |
1996 | The Camargo Foundation Fellowship Grant. |