Cosmic Dimensions

Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelt

This exhibition celebrates the legacy of Danish artists Carl-Henning Pedersen and Else Alfelt, presenting over 150 works that encompass their artistic journeys and highlight the essence of their creative partnership. Developed in cooperation with the Carl-Henning Pedersen Foundation, the Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum, curator and former director of the ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art Christian Gether and the Institute for Cultural Exchange, this marks the first major international retrospective of this influential artist couple. The exhibition delves into the intimate journey and lasting influence of two artists whose visions transcended boundaries and time, offering profound insights into one of Denmark’s most significant artistic partnerships. In light of the current reassessment of forgotten art histories the engagement with often-overlooked war and post-war collectives such as Høst, Helhesten, and CoBrA becomes all the more significant. In this context, the exhibition on Carl-Henning Pedersen and Else Alfelt, who were central figures in these movements, takes on a special urgency and relevance.

Exhibition objects: A well-balanced selection of approx. 39 paintings and 22 watercolors and 3 mosaic-works by Else Alfelt and 54 paintings, 9 sculptures, 12 paper works with watercolor mixing technique and 4 mosaic-works by Carl-Henning Pedersen
Exhibition space: approx. 650 – 1250 sqm (adjustable in size)
Exhibition catalog: German/English

Exhibition venues:
Kunstsilo, Kristiansand, Norway, April 10, 2025 – August 31, 2025
Kunsthalle St. Annen, Lübeck, Germany, May 23, 2026 – October 25, 2026

Carl-Henning Pedersen, Stjerne-kongen med sine fugle (The Star-King with His Birds, 1970
© Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum
Else Alfelt, Skoven (The Forest), 1945
© Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum
Else Alfelt, Med rød måne (With Red Moon), 1961
© Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum
Carl-Henning Pedersen, Skæbne hoved og dobbelt hovede (Destiny Head and Double Head), 1977
© Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum
Else Alfelt, Mørkeblå bjergrytme med fuldmåne (Dark Blue Mountain Rhythm with Full Moon), 1970
© Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum
Carl-Henning Pedersen, Gul fugl (Yellow Bird), 1973
© Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum
Else Alfelt, Portræt af Carl-Henning Pedersen (Portrait of Carl-Henning Pedersen), 1934
© Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum
Carl-Henning Pedersen, Grøn maske (Green Mask), 1939
© Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum

The exhibition is developed in cooperation with the Carl-Henning Pedersen Foundation,
the Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum,
curator and former director of the ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art Christian Gether and
the Institute for Cultural Exchange.

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