Per Kirkeby

in Frankfurt am Main, Germany In 1957, Kirkeby began studying natural history at the University of Copenhagen. As a research assistant, he went on several trips to Greenland, in 1958, 1959, and 1960. In 1962, he began studying at the Experimental Art School in Copenhagen (). During his time there, worked with a variety of mediums, including: painting, graphic arts, 8 millimeter films and performance pieces. By the time Kirkeby completed a master's degree in arctic geology at the University of Copenhagen in 1964, he was already part of the important experimental art school "eks-skolen." His interest in geology and other aspects of the natural world was fundamental to and characteristic of his art. Kirkeby went on to work as a painter, sculptor, writer, and printmaker. His works were exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 1976, 1980, 1993, 1997, and 2005. In addition, he worked with theatre productions, designing the set for the New York City Ballet's 1999 production of Swan Lake, and the set and costumes for their 2007 production of Romeo and Juliet. In 1977, he published Fliegende Blätter. He published a book of essays on the works of Delacroix, Manet, Picasso in 1988. Kirkeby taught as a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, Karlsruhe beginning in 1978, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (1978–1989) and at Städelschule in Frankfurt (1989–2000). In 1996, he collaboratively works as a painter for three films with filmmaker Lars von Trier, creating the chapter headings for Breaking the Waves and Antichrist, as well as the visuals for the ouverture to Dancer in the Dark. ==Personal life==

Per Kirkeby was born 1 September 1938 in Copenhagen to Alfred Kirkeby Christensen and Lucy Helga Alice Nisbeth Bertelsen. His father Alfred was an engineer and he spent his childhood between Bispebjerg and Husum. He announced in 2015 that he had given up all further attempts to resume painting after the accident, but continued to create small etchings. == List of exhibitions ==

in Copenhagen • "Per Kirkeby", Kunsthalle Krems (2018) • "Per Kirkeby: Sculptures en brique", Palais des études (2017) • "Kirkeby på Læsø – om Læsø i Per Kirkebys kunst", Læsø Kunsthal, Østerby, Denmark (2016) • "Per Kirkeby komplet. Det raderede livsværk", Museum Jorn (2015) • "Per Kirkeby – Samlingen", ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum (2012) • "Per Kirkeby", Tate Modern (2009) • "Per Kirkeby", Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (2008) • "Per Kirkeby", Shanghai Zendai Museum of Modern Art (2007) • "Per Kirkeby", Arts Club of Chicago (2007) • "Per Kirkeby", National Gallery of Denmark (2006) • "Per Kirkeby: Prototypes of Nature", Kunsthalle Emden (2006) • "Per Kirkeby", Kunsthalle zu Kiel (2006) • "Per Kirkeby / Crystal – Reflections, Connections and References", Aargaouer Kunsthaus (2006) • "Homage to Chillida", Guggenheim Bilbao (2006) • "Per Kirkeby: Retrospektive der Zeichnungen", Villa Massimo (2004) • "Per Kirkeby: Natur und Gestalt. Retrospektive der Zeichnungen und Aquarelle", Sinclair-Haus, Bad Homburg v.d.H. (2003); Städtisches Kunstmuseum Singen, Germany (2004) • "Per Kirkeby. Monotypes", University Art Gallery, University Massachusetts Dartmouth (2002) • "DC: Per Kirkeby. 122 x 122 – Gemälde auf Masonit", Museum Ludwig (2002) • "Per Kirkeby. Die Karlsruher Jahre", Städtische Galerie Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe (2000) • "Per Kirkeby. Radierungen, Holzschnitte, Monotypien • 1980-2000", Niels Borch Jensen Galerie und Verlag, Berlin (2000) • "Per Kirkeby", Magasin 3, Stockholm (1999) • "Per Kirkeby. Schilderijen, sculpturen en modellen in brons/Peintures, Sculptures et modèles en bronze" Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels (1998) • "Per Kirkeby. Peintures 1992-1996", Maison des Arts Georges Pompidou, Centre d'art contemporain, Cajarc-Lot, France (1996) • "Per Kirkeby. Pinturas, Esculturas, Grabados y Escritos. Institut Valencià d'Art Modern IVAM, Spain (1989) • "Retrospektive", Ludwig Museum (1987) • "Per Kirkeby: Recent Paintings and Sculpture", Whitechapel Gallery (1985) • "An International Survey of Recent Painting and Sculpture", Museum of Modern Art (1984) • "Per Kirkeby", Van Abbemuseum (1982) • Documenta 7 (1982) • "Per Kirkeby", Kunsthalle Bern (1978) • "Fliegende Blätter", Museum Folkwang (1977) == References ==