Galleri Nicolai Wallner
Copenhagen
Established in the fall of 1993, Galleri Nicolai Wallner is dedicated to showcasing challenging and innovative contemporary art.
Since its inception, the gallery has consistently embodied the spirit of its time, shaping and maintaining an agenda that endures today. Many artists in our current lineup have been integral since the beginning, holding their inaugural solo exhibitions here. Founded on the principle of representing artists throughout their careers, the gallery combines established and emerging talents. Our commitment to seminal artists allows us to contextualize our vision and introduce Denmark to influential figures in the art world.
The gallery's responsibilities extend beyond exhibition spaces, involving personal collaborations, production support, and connections to international galleries and museums. We manage comprehensive written and visual archives for each artist and serve as an open public space, offering the highest caliber of contemporary art to the wider audience. Our current program features a diverse mix of Scandinavian and international artists, united not by a shared aesthetic but by a collective desire to express content, tell stories, and leave an impression in an ever-changing world.
Featured artists
Anna Kristine Hvid Petersen
Anna Kristine Hvid Petersen's artistic focus lies predominantly in the realm of painting, where her work is characterized by sublime richness and meticulous detail. Her paintings transcend the ordinary, serving as windows into alternative worlds. While initially appearing rooted in the traditions of still life, a closer examination reveals a departure from simplicity. Inaccurate shadows and captivating yet deceptive backgrounds push the context into new dimensions. Hvid Petersen masterfully combines the familiar with the unknown, constructing dynamic narratives that beckon our understanding.
The prevalent use of smaller formats intensifies the experience, drawing viewers closer, inviting them to lean in for a deeper connection. The paintings evolve into scenography and landscapes, portraying a world where objects take on human characteristics, playfully turning away as if acknowledging our presence and the symbolism they hold. Hvid Petersen's work is both playful and captivating, alluding to a reality parallel to ours—a growing storyline that unfolds layer by layer, suggesting a world nearby yet distinctly different.
Anna Kristine Hvid Petersen. Courtesy of the gallery and the artist.
Anna Kristine Hvid Petersen. Courtesy of the gallery and the artist.
A KASSEN
Artist group A Kassen’s practice is first and foremost an exploration of the relationship between form and content. Beginning with an object or an element, such as an everyday object, a material such as bronze, or something more ephemeral like a puddle or a reflection, A Kassen task themselves with acts of construction and deconstruction, with reinterpretation and re-contextualisation, against the backdrop of questioning our preconceived notions of what the phenomenon in question really is.
Through these manipulations, A Kassen create works that are necessarily meant to be seen through the context of art and aesthetics. It is not so much a question of what happens when these works are placed within an institutional art setting, but rather what happens when we take something that we have come to see as ordinary or mundane, and see it through the lens of “art”. With this in mind, the role of the spectator becomes central. Conceived as an integral part of the work, we become interpreters, creating layers of meaning and understanding for each of the works, as we re-write their narratives.
A KASSEN, Portrait of the artist. Courtesy of the gallery and the artist.
A KASSEN. Courtesy of the gallery and the artist.
A KASSEN. Courtesy of the gallery and the artist.
Christoph Ruckhäberle
Christoph Ruckhäberle is known for his ability to make scenarios come alive in his drawings, paintings and prints. Scenes and moments which first appear to be flat are transformed through the artist’s use of expressive body language, gestures, and faces. A focus on geometric patterns and shapes, as well as a thoughtful use of colour gives his work a dynamic and contemporary feeling. In a nod to the history and the style of painting in the 20th century, Ruckhäberle places his figures in classical poses from portraiture sittings as well as in the midst of more social situations and gatherings.
Portraying scenes with figures dancing, walking, talking, and drinking all come together to create the feeling of movement and to the reinforce the importance the role of the body has within the context of non-verbal communications.
Each work reveals a story, as Christoph Ruckhäberle’s compositions and characters present us with narratives that we are invited to piece together. As such, we are asked to immerse ourselves within each of their worlds, bringing our own perspectives and our own experiences.
Christoph Ruckhäberle, Artist in his studio. Courtesy of the gallery and the artist.
Christoph Ruckhäberle. Courtesy of the gallery and the artist.
Christoph Ruckhäberle. Courtesy of the gallery and the artist.
Jakob Kolding
Jakob Kolding's artistic practice is rooted in the essence and history of collage. Drawing inspiration from diverse sources—ranging from the historical canons of visual arts, literature, and theater to pop culture, hip-hop, science fiction, urban imagery, and contemporary culture—Kolding has crafted a distinctive visual vocabulary. Layer by layer, he brings to life a world that is both intricately complex and aesthetically captivating.
Themes of identity, politics, presentation, body positioning, gestures, and acting are interwoven throughout Kolding's work. Juxtaposing imagery and ideas, his creations open up a space for new, unexpected connections, urging viewers to delve into their own subjective experiences and interpretations. The recent evolution of Kolding's practice introduces a heightened physical presence. Building on his renowned cut and paste technique, he now creates three-dimensional collages through cutout sculptures resembling dioramas and scenography. These sculptures expand within their space, inviting exploration into an entire world that encourages us to immerse ourselves in its intricacies.
Jakob Kolding. Courtesy of the gallery and the artist.
Jakob Kolding. Courtesy of the gallery and the artist.
J.G. Arvidsson
J.G. Arvidsson's artistic focus lies primarily in the realm of painting, where he consistently portrays individuals and figures, often in profile or silhouette. The narratives within his work are intentionally open-ended, encouraging diverse interpretations. Throughout his practice, recurring motifs and elements create a referential framework, allowing viewers to navigate their subjective interpretations.
This purposeful yet delicately subtle ambiguity is mirrored in Arvidsson's techniques. Using a variety of media on found and upcycled wood, he applies paint, canvas, oil stick, and more, building layers that are thickly applied and selectively scratched off. The deliberate exposure of layers, seams, and physical processes results in an expansive depth, both material and narrative, tangible to the touch.
Arvidsson explores semi-autobiographical themes and personal experiences, with initial inspiration drawn from private sources. Despite this personal origin, the works intentionally invite inclusivity. By delving into expansive themes of social issues and the human condition, Arvidsson creates a space where his paintings serve as a means for engaging with these ideas at one's own pace, enriched by the layer of individual lives and unique perspectives.
J.G. Arvidsson. Courtesy of the gallery and the artist.
J.G. Arvidsson. Courtesy of the gallery and the artist.
Kinga Bartis
Kinga Bartis defies the conventions of traditional painting, adopting an unconventional approach that transcends the confines of the classic medium. Rejecting labels, Bartis sees painting as a tool to break free from the habitual cycle of defining and redefining our existence, embracing a more multidisciplinary and open perspective.
This unconventional approach extends to Bartis' technique and composition, where traditional relationships and perceived hierarchies are discarded. Bodies, figures, plants, and landscapes intermingle, reflecting the fluid realities of a shifting world. The ambiguity created by blending these elements provides a dynamic backdrop, allowing characters to ebb and flow, subtly moving on the canvas and organically revealing themselves.
Themes of sexuality, power structures, the body, and self-perception pulse through Bartis' work, creating a platform for discussions. Instead of dictating a specific direction, the presence of these themes evokes moods and feelings, encouraging viewers to engage in conversations spurred by the nuanced motions within Bartis' art.
Kinga Bartis, Portrait. Courtesy of the gallery and the artist.
Kinga Bartis. Courtesy of the gallery and the artist.
Kinga Bartis. Courtesy of the gallery and the artist.
