Per Kirkeby, a Danish creative, took inspiration from geology and natural surroundings, greatly influencing his paintings and brick sculptures. His devotion to the conceptual understanding of structures led him to work within specific parameters, containing the urgency of mark making. “A structure-less painting holds no significance to me. Structure reflects your level of responsibility towards the work,” he explained. “You can’t simply let it float around in pretty colors. It needs a core.”
Born on September 1, 1938, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Kirkeby pursued a degree in geology from the University of Copenhagen. However, he continued to cultivate his artistic practice, producing paintings, sculptures, films, and prints. In the 1960s, his performance art brought collaborations with Fluxus artists such as Joseph Beuys, Nam June Paik, and Charlotte Moorman. Tragically, in 2013, Kirkeby suffered a severe brain injury from a fall and was unable to paint before his passing on May 9, 2018, in his hometown of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Today, Kirkeby’s creations are held in esteemed collections, including the Art Institute of Chicago, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Gallery in London, and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, Denmark.
www. ftn-books.com has some nice Kirkeby titles available.
