Charlotte Thorup

Ceramic Artist

Born

1973

Gentagelser, rumlige skalaspring og sanselige glasurer kendetegner keramiker Charlotte Thorups værker. Værker, der søger dialogen mellem materialer, overflader og kontraster. Mellem det enkle og rustikke. Mellem minimale og komplekse greb. Mellem stram geometri og organisk tilfældighed.

Charlotte Thorups arbejde er håndens vej i materialet. Kloge hænder, der kender deres alfabet og formgiver værker i en kombination af tavs viden og store bogstaver. Værkernes arkitektoniske proportioner forskyder sig i enkle greb, men tilbyder altid et brud i forventningen, hvor dissonans møder balance og skaber harmoni.

Arkitektur, natur og gentagelser er det gennemgående afsæt for Thorups keramiske kompositioner, der fabulerer og gestikulerer, men også er stille. Til stede. Som meditativt nærvær forbundet med jorden, naturen og stofligheden fortolket i den Thorupske farvepalet.

Kurator, redaktør, rådgiver Charlotte Jul


Repetition, sensuous glazes and leaps in spatial scale are key characteristics of ceramic artist Charlotte Thorup’s work. Her objects seek to initiate a dialogue between materials, surfaces and contrasts. Between simple and rustic expressions. Between minimalist and complex approaches. Between strict geometry and organic unpredictability.

Charlotte Thorup’s work is about the encounter of hands and material. Wise hands that know their alphabet and shape objects in a combination of tacit knowledge and big statements. The objects’ architectural proportions are elegantly displaced but always play with expectation, as dissonance meets balance to achieve harmony.

Architecture, nature and repetition are persistent aspects of Thorup’s ceramic compositions, which ramble and gesticulate but also have a quiet presence and a meditative connection to soil, nature and tactility, interpreted in Thorup’s signature colour palette.

Curator, editor, consultant Charlotte Jul

Education

2000 – 1997

The Royal Danish Academy of fine arts, School of Design, Bornholm, Denmark

 

1996 – 1995

Ceramic Department, Art Academy, Aarhus, Denmark

 

1994

Art school in Florence, Italy

 

 

Selected exhibitions

2025

Holkahesten, Gudhjem Museum, Gudhjem & Bispegården, Kalundborg Kunstforening, Kalundborg, Denmark

 

2023

Kunsthåndværk – Craft from Bornholm, Hotel K5, Tokyo, Japan

Holkahesten, Gudhjem Museum, Gudhjem, Denmark

Keramiske Konstruktioner, Hjorts Fabrik, Rønne, Denmark

 

2022

Anne Fløche & Charlotte Thorup, Gallery Pagter, Kolding, Denmark

Brændt, Blæst, Malet & Dyrket, Bornholm Art Museum, Rø, Denmark

Holkahesten, Gudhjem Museum, Gudhjem, Denmark

 

2021

Craft at its best, Ostholstein Museum, Eutin, Deutchland

Holkahesten, Gudhjem Museum & Art Association Kolding, Denmark

 

2020

Crafts from Bornholm, Hempel Glassmuseum, Nykøbing Sjælland, Denmark

Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition 2020, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Denmark

Holkahesten, Gudhjem Museum, Gudhjem, Denmark

Danish Women in Contemporary Ceramics, Lucy Lacoste Gallery, USA

 

2019

Crafts from Bornholm, Art association Hobro, Denmark

Holkahesten, Gudhjem Museum, Gudhjem, Denmark

 

2018

New Bornholm Crafts, Hjorts Fabrik, Rønne, Denmark

Intersections, Det Brune Værksted, Nexø, Denmark

Ceramic Chinese Whispers, Gallery Charlotte Thorup, Svaneke, Denmark

Holkahesten Gudhjem Museum, Gudhjem, Denmark

Masterpieces, Ann Linnemann Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

100 years of Danish Ceramics, Sophienholm, Lyngby, Denmark

 

2017

Holkahesten, Gudhjem Museum, Gudhjem, Denmark

Open to art, Officine Saffi, Milano, Italy

 

2016

Toy, Ann Linnemann Galleri, Copenhagen, Denmark

Danish Contemporary, Lucy Lacoste Gallery, USA

Landscape – Islands, The Ceramic House, Brighton, England

Uneven Spaces, Ann Linnemann Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

 

2015

The Art and Craft Prize of 1879, Silver Medal, Officinet, Copenhagen, Denmark

Resonans, Art Association Lyngby, Denmark

Definition, Officinet, Copenhagen, Denmark

 

2014

Unik Keramik, Art association Køge, Denmark

Bornholmsk Keramik, Gudhjem Museum, Gudhjem, Denmark

New Meets Old, Hjorths Fabrik, Rønne, Denmark

Lystens Strukturer, R2 Galleri, Svaneke, Denmark

Form Language, Ann Linnemann Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

Fantastic Tales, The Ceramic House, Brighton, England

 

2013

Definition, Gallery Johan S., Helsinki, Finland

Masterpieces, Ann Linnemann Studio Gallery, Denmark

 

2012

The Ocean, ACAB – Arts and Crafts Association Bornholm, The Round Tower, Copenhagen, Denmark

Behold, Masses of containers – in good shape! Ann Linnemann Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

The Art and Craft Prize of 1879, Bronze Medal, The National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark

 

2011

The next generation, Palæfløjen, Roskilde, Denmark

A touch of…, Ann Linnemann Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

 

2010

Wave Rhythm Fold, Gallery Klejn, Allinge, Denmark

Decade one, The Danish Design School, Nexø, Denmark

Spring of Berlin, ACAB – Arts and Crafts Association Bornholm, Berlin, Germany

Hot Spots, Museion No. 1, Budapest, Hungary

 

2009

Unik Keramik – Form og ide, The Art association Hobro, Denmark

Landmarks, Flow Gallery, London, England

 

2007

Gallery Svanekegaarden, The selected Autumn Show 2007, Svaneke, Denmark

10. Rencontre Internationale, La Borne s ́enflamme, La Borne, France

Ceramic studio of Bornholm for 100 years, The Art association Thisted, Denmark

 

2006

The International Orton Cone Box Show, Hot/Russel Gallery, USA

European Ceramic context 2006, Det blå hus, Svaneke, Denmark

 

2005

Art association Køge, Denmark

 

2004

8. Rencontre Internationale Céramique de La Borne, La Borne, France

The Biennale for Craft and Design 2004, Trapholt, Kolding & Aalborg Art Museum, Denmark

Ceramists from Bornholm, Sjællands Keramikmuseum, Roskilde, Denmark

Mellem Himmel og Hav, ACAB – Arts and Crafts Association Bornholm, The Round Tower, Copenhagen, Denmark

Awardwinner at the Orton Cone Box Show 2004, Baker University Kansas, USA

 

2003

Gallery Kaffeslottet, The selected Autumn Show 2003, Gudhjem, Denmark

Form Vl, Art Association SAK, Svendborg, Denmark

 

2002

Gallery Kaffeslottet, The Selected Autumn Show 2002, Gudhjem, Denmark

The Tokoname Ceramic Festival, Japan

Gallery Tougaku Kobou, Tokoname, Japan

 

2000

Degree show of The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Design, Bornholm, Denmark

Awardwinner at the Orton Cone Box Show 2000, Baker University Kansas, USA

 

 

 

Grants and Awards

2025

Danish Arts Foundation, Working Grant (2014)

 

2023

The Danish National Bank Jubilee Foundation of 1968 (2020, 2014, 2013, 2007)

 

2021

Danish Art Foundation (2019)

 

2018

Arts Council Bornholm (2014)

 

2017

Brødrene E, S & A Larsen Foundation, Bornholm

 

2016

Grosserer L.F. Foghts Foundation (2014, 2013, 2010)

 

2015

Annie & Otto Johs. Detlefs’ Foundation

The art and craft prize of 1879, Silver Medal

Esther & Jep Finks Memorial Fund for Architecture and Crafts

 

2014

Beckett Foundation

 

2012

The art and craft prize of 1879, Bronze Medal and Travel Scholarship

 

2009

Fridtmodt-Heineke Foundation (1999)

Knud Højgaards Foundation (2007, 2003, 2001)

 

2007

Travel Scholarship, The selected Autumn Show of Svanekegaarden

 

2002

Martha og Paul Kerrn-Jespersens Foundation

The Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation

Toyota Foundation

 

2000

The Reiersenske Foundation

 

Presented at

Hjorts Fabrik, The Museum of Ceramic, Rønne, Denmark

The Art Museum of Bornholm, Rø, Denmark

 

Member of

ACAB, Arts and Craft Association Bornholm

DK&D, Danish Crafts & Design Association

Holkahesten, Artists Association Bornholm