Lars Ravn (born 1959)

Lars Ravn is a Danish contemporary artist known for his eclectic, playful style that blends humor, surrealism, and symbolism. Working across a wide range of media—including painting, drawing, printmaking, and mixed media—Ravn’s art often draws upon classical art traditions while integrating elements of contemporary pop culture. His works are celebrated for their bold use of color and fantastical themes, frequently evoking dreamlike scenarios that explore mythology, nature, and the absurd. His career spans several decades, and he has exhibited internationally, gaining recognition for his innovative and imaginative approach to art.

Early Life and Education

Lars Ravn was born in Denmark in 1959 and grew up in Vejle. From an early age, he showed an interest in art, and his formative experiences with visual art at the Vejle Art Museum and Vejle Art Association significantly shaped his later development. In high school, his art teacher noted similarities between Ravn’s style and that of 20th-century artists such as Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky—names Ravn had never encountered before. Inspired, he began borrowing stacks of art history books from the library, immersing himself in the world of visual art.

Ravn’s connection to Hans Christian Andersen emerged early when he painted an illustration of Andersen’s poem Hist hvor Vejen slår en Bugt (“Where the Road Bends”), foreshadowing a lifelong fascination with Andersen’s artistic and literary legacy.

In 1980, Ravn assisted artist and curator Peter Louis-Jensen in organizing the “Art Fair for Vejle” exhibition at Vejle Art Museum. As a gesture of gratitude, Louis-Jensen gifted him a copy of The Blue Dragon by Aage Marcus—a symbolic nod to Ravn’s later adventurous and expressive visual language. Louis-Jensen also wrote an introduction letter to renowned art collector and curator John Hunov, who promoted promising young artists. This connection became a crucial turning point in Ravn’s career.

Early Career and Artistic Mentors

Ravn’s decision to pursue art solidified during his civilian service as a conscientious objector at Silkeborg Art Museum. The museum’s director, Troels Andersen, and the vibrant artistic environment encouraged Ravn to fully commit to his creative path. Meanwhile, a DSB rail pass allowed him to visit art museums across Denmark, offering exposure to diverse styles and works.

Rather than attending the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Ravn chose a “master-apprentice” approach, working under established artists such as ceramicist Erik Nyholm, visual artist Bjørn Nørgaard, glass artist Per Hebsgaard, and copperplate printer Niels Borch Jensen. Ravn absorbed techniques and approaches from these mentors, building a strong technical foundation and an experimental approach to art.

Ravn’s career gained momentum in the early 1980s, and by 1987—at just 28 years old—he held a retrospective exhibition at Vejle Art Museum. This was an unusually early milestone in an artist’s career and highlighted how quickly he had made his mark. While contemporaneous with the “Young Wild Ones” movement of the Danish art scene, Ravn chose an independent path with a raw, expressive, and figurative visual style.

Breakthrough and International Recognition

During the 1980s and 1990s, Lars Ravn quickly rose to prominence in Denmark and internationally, thanks to his unique fusion of surrealism, pop culture elements, and humorous visual storytelling. His works from this period often juxtaposed classical motifs with fantastical, modern, and sometimes absurd imagery, earning him a distinctive reputation in contemporary Danish art.

In the 1990s, Ravn expanded his international presence through exhibitions and collaborations, creating networks beyond Denmark. Notable among these was his collaboration with the Danish rock band Schwartzwald Library, where he contributed to stage design and visual identity, showcasing his versatility and multidisciplinary approach.

Reinterpreting Hans Christian Andersen’s Visual Art

Hans Christian Andersen is widely known for his literary works, but his lesser-known contributions to visual art are a central focus of Lars Ravn’s projects. Andersen often used drawing as a medium to capture impressions from his daily life and travels. His visual art reveals a new dimension of his creative thinking, emphasizing that it was “not only the written word that explored the world.”

The Background

In 2017, Ravn initiated an ambitious project focusing on Andersen’s visual art, exploring his sketches, paper cuttings, and collages. The project culminated in the 2019 Valdemars Slot exhibition, which juxtaposed Andersen’s original works with Ravn’s interpretations. That year, Ravn added ten more pieces to the collection, followed by an additional 25 works in 2020, showcasing his continuous engagement with Andersen’s artistic legacy.

The Box-Paintings Series

One of the highlights of the project was the Box-Paintings series, where Ravn drew inspiration from Andersen’s playful and experimental approach to visual art. By merging Andersen’s historical sketches with modern, surreal compositions, Ravn created a dialogue between past and present.

Exhibition at Valdemars Slot (2019)

The Valdemars Slot exhibition featured 65 works by Andersen, reinterpreted by Ravn through bold, colorful paintings and intricate mixed media. This exhibition highlighted Andersen’s versatility as an artist and illuminated the deeper creative dimensions of his visual and literary works. The project gained international attention, with the accompanying book being published in Danish, English, and Chinese editions.

Major Projects and Collaborations

1999–2003: Hans Christian Andersen Bicentennial Project

One of Ravn’s most significant commissions came in 1999 when the Ny Carlsberg Foundation invited him to create artwork for the bicentennial of Andersen’s birth in 2005. Over four years, Ravn developed a series of visual reinterpretations of Andersen’s life and artistic legacy, incorporating elements from Andersen’s drawings and paper cuttings. This project explored Andersen’s lesser-known role as a visual artist, blending historical and contemporary styles.

Public Commissions

Ravn has completed numerous public art projects, including murals and decorative works. Notable examples include the decoration of the Hans Christian Andersen bicentennial secretariat in Odense. His murals are characterized by vibrant color palettes and a raw, expressive style that captures life’s sensory richness.

Legacy and Artistic Style

Lars Ravn is celebrated for his innovative and imaginative approach to art, with a career spanning several decades. His works are marked by bold colors, surreal themes, and a storytelling sensibility that blends classical references with contemporary elements. This combination has established him as a prominent figure in Danish art, particularly among the “Young Wild Ones” of the 1980s.

Ravn’s works are held in prestigious collections, including Trapholt, AROS, Kastrupgård Collection, and Vejle Art Museum. Whether reinterpreting Andersen’s visual art, exploring mythology, or challenging traditional motifs, Ravn consistently redefines artistic norms. His ongoing engagement with both Danish and international audiences underscores his enduring curiosity and creative evolution.

Selected Solo Shows:
2015 On the other side, In The Gallery, Copenhagen, DK
2014 Lars Ravn – Retrospective, Kolding Kunstforening, DK
2010 The Free Rabbit, Lanlan Gallery, Xiamen, Kina
2009 Skudt Papegøjen (Lucked), Lars Ravn – Retrospective. Silkeborg Kunstmuseum, DK
2006 Himmeltræet og andre Gudebilleder (A Tree in Heaven and Other Idols). Bredgade kunsthandel, Copenhagen, DK
2006 Ingen skaber alene (No one creates alone). Odsherreds Kunstmuseum, DK
2005 Ingen skaber alene (No one creates alone). Garageudstilling, Copenhagen, DK
2004 Sanser Kroppen Landskab (Senses Body Landscapes). Galleri Carsten Frøkjær, Copenhagen, DK
2003 Galleri Franz Pedersen, Horsens, DK
2000 Lars Ravn.Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture, Tomarp Kungsgård, Sweden

Selected Group Shows:
2016 Corner 2015, Sophienholm, Copenhagen, DK
2015 Corner 2015, Sophienholm, Copenhagen, DK
2014 Kunstner møde – Vendsyssel (Artist Meeting – Vendsyssel), DK
2013 Zig-Zag, Stuttgard und Kunstraum Neuruppin, Germany
2012 ASI Art Museum, Island
2012 ”Seeing Landscape” Corner and Chinese artists at Artcenter Silkeborg Bad, DK
2011 Corner med Rylen (Corner and Rylen), Odsherreds Kunstmuseum, Marstal Museum, DK
2011 ”Seeing Landscape” Corner artists at Xiamen Kunstmuseum, Fuijan, China
2011 Corner and other Danes, Fujian, China
2007 Fest for bogen: Ingen skaber alene (Feast of the book: No one creates alone). Garageudstilling. Copenhagen, DK
2006 Eks. Skolen mm. Galleri Tavi, Skagen, DK

Awards and funding:
Received grants from Kai Nielsen Memorial Scholarship, Ebba Celinders Scholarship, Heerup scholarship, Silkeborg legatet HOF’s cultural prize and several grants from the Danish Arts Foundation.

Represented:
Represented on Danish and foreign art museums, including the National Gallery of Denmark, Aros Museum Jorn, Vejle Art Museum, Trapholt, Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden and Jimei University Art Collection.

Commisions:
2013 Wall decor in Le Café, Waterfront, Tuborg Havn, Copenhagen, DK
2010 Glass Decorating, Patio – Ikast Gymnasium, DK
2009 Mural at the university in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China

Trust:
Member of The Artists’ Society since 1990, Member of the Academy 2001-2013, Member of the Academy from 2006 to 2010, member of the Art Museum Trapholts Board from 2010 to 2013, member of the Artists Association Corner since 2000, the management of the same since 2007

Teaching/Lectures:
University of Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, China, Painting class at Art Academy.