Voltz Clarke :: Artists :: Ann Sophie Staerk

Ann Sophie Staerk¹s paintings of familiar urban interiors oscillate between figuration and abstraction. Originally captured as digital snapshots, Staerk distills these spaces to their essential forms by projecting and enlarging her photographs onto canvases. Visually, her paintings provide few links to the three-dimensional spaces on which they are based or the metropolitan life they frame. Rather, Staerk’s fluid lines and blocks or color create images that, while inviting, are unrecognizable and impenetrable in their insistent flatness. In Jungle Fever and Jungle Interior the
artist retains only a few vague spatial markers from her original subject, abstracting a high-end fashion storefront and upscale bar into colorful landscapes. Racks and shelves with designer labels are transformed into fields of luscious pastels; chandeliers and lamps become vine-like vegetation. In Staerk’s work, cityscape becomes fantasyscape.

Born 1973 in Copenhagen, Denmark

EXHIBITIONS

2005, M at Mercer, Insomniac Dream, NY
(presented by Voltz Clarke)

2005
Paaske udstillingen, Tistrup. Denmark

2004
Georg Jensen, Paris
Nolo, Copenhagen
Copehagen Project Room, Copenhagen

2003
Gallerie Danoise, Paris
Kunstforeningen Gl Strand, Copenhagen
Stalke Gallery, Copenhagen
Glostrup Kunstforening, Denmark

2002
Horsens Museum of Art, Quirky Girls, Denmark
Den Frie, ALIBI- Alle lever i byens igloer, Copenhagen
DCA Gallery, Quirky Girls, New York

2000
Æglageret, Holbæk
Royal Danish Academy, Konnichiwa, Copenhagen
Forårsudstillingen Charlottenborg, Copenhagen
Østre Gasværk, Copenhagen

1999
Debutantudstillingen, Silkeborg
Danske Grafikers Hus, Tryk 14, Copenhagen
Gallery Rhizum, Tryk 14, Aarhus
Nordic Film, Copenhagen

1998
Forårsudstillingen Charlottenborg, Copenhagen
Kunstforeningen Gl Strand, Exit, Copenhagen
Rampen, 5 Copenhagen
Gallery New Art, Copenhagen
Galerie Orange, Helsingnor

1997
Gallery Mikael Andersen, Copenhagen
Paintspace, Copenhagen
Grændselandsudstillingen, Aabenraa

1996
Gallery Max Mundus, Copenhagen
Gallery Eat Me, Copenhagen
Turbinehallen, Copenhagen Convoy

1997
Rådskæklderen, Copenhagen
Scanticon, Espergære

1996
Gallery Orange, Helsingnor

1995
Gallery Pink, Copenhagen
Kastrupgaardsamlingen, Copenhagen

EDUCATION

92-99 The royal Academy of Art in Copenhagen
1996 Chelsea School of Art, London

PRESS

2002
Denmarks Radio-Silikone P1- Quirky Girls
TV 2 Lorry-indslag- ALIBI
Berlingske Tidende-review- ALIBI
New York Times-review- Quirky Girls
Village Voice,New York- Quirky Girls
Mixed Greens- review Quirky Girls
Gerneral Consulat of Denmark, New York
Kopenhagen.dk- review Quirky Girls
Custume - article with picture Quirky Girls
Politikken-interview ALIBI and Quirky Girls
Information- katalogue ALIBI and interview with Quirky Girls

2000
Politikken- review-Konnichiwa

1998
Berlinske Tidende- review with picture
Ekstra Bladet- review EXIT

GRANTS

2002
Statens Kunstfond
Horsens Museum of Art
Horsens Museum of Art Friends Grant
CDB-Center of Danish Art
Horsens Museum of Art
Rangvald & Ida Blix Fond
Margot Fribergs Fond
Gerhard Hennings Grant
L.Zeuthens Mindelegat
Billedkunstrådet
Københavns Kommune
Statens Kunstfond Grant
Cíte International des Arts
ISCP Program, New York