Gunnar Aagaard Andersen

Gunnar Aagaard Andersen (14 July 1919 – 29 June 1982) was a Danish sculptor, painter, designer and architect whose work belongs to the Concrete art movement.

Early life and education Born in Ordrup to the north of Copenhagen, Aagaard Andersen attended the Arts and Crafts School (Kunsthåndværkersole) from 1936 to 1939. Between 1940 and 1946, he studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts under Aksel Jørgensen and Gunnar Biilmann Petersen.

Career

Aagaard Andersen first exhibited at the Kunstnernes Efterårsudstilling (Artists Autumn Exhibition) in 1937. Initially he created mainly drawings and sketches but he also painted. In the 1940s, he illustrated a number of books in a Realist style but while he was in Paris, he was inspired to paint Concrete art works. He was one of the founders of the Linien II artists association (1948–52), ensuring a working relationship between new trends in French art and developments in Denmark. His most comprehensive achievement in decoration was for the Odense Concert Hall in 1983.

Awards In 1977, Aagaard Andersen was awarded the Eckersberg Medal and, in 1980, the Thorvaldsen Medal.

Exhibitions Aagaard Andersen i brug, Den Frie Udstilling, Copenhagen (17 August –16 October 2013)