Artist statement
I explore contemporary life through everyday objects, cultural symbols, and familiar images. Working as a cultural archaeologist, I uncover layers of meaning in the things that surround us and examine what they reveal about how we see ourselves, relate to others, and navigate the world.
My work moves between the personal and the collective, the inner and the outer. I am interested in the spaces we create around ourselves — as places of identity, protection, connection, but also distance. Popular culture and everyday life are important sources of inspiration, alongside my own photographs. Humour, ambiguity, colour, and composition are central tools in my practice.
Currently, I am working on the series MY SPACE, in which I investigate mental, personal, and social spaces — the tension between inner life and the shared world. I am concerned with how we are moving from a shared sense of orientation towards a more self-centred self-awareness, and how this self-awareness can both offer protection and create distance from others. The investigation centres on when inner space functions as a necessary refuge and when it becomes a barrier.
Dansk
Jeg undersøger samtiden gennem hverdagsgenstande, kulturelle symboler og velkendte billeder. Som en kulturel arkæolog afdækker jeg lag af betydning i de ting, der omgiver os, og undersøger, hvad de fortæller om, hvordan vi ser os selv, forholder os til andre og navigerer i verden.
Mit arbejde bevæger sig mellem det personlige og det kollektive, det indre og det ydre. Jeg er optaget af de rum, vi skaber omkring os – som steder for identitet, beskyttelse og forbindelse, men også for afstand. Populærkultur og hverdagsliv er vigtige inspirationskilder, ligesom mine egne fotografier. Humor, tvetydighed, farve og komposition er centrale greb i min praksis.
Jeg arbejder aktuelt med værkserien MY SPACE, hvor jeg undersøger mentale, personlige og sociale rum – spændingsfeltet mellem det indre og det fælles. Jeg er optaget af, hvordan vi bevæger os fra en fælles orientering mod en mere selvcentreret selvbevidsthed, og hvordan denne både kan fungere som beskyttelse og skabe afstand til andre. Undersøgelsen kredser om, hvornår det indre rum er et nødvendigt frirum, og hvornår det bliver en barriere.
Artist bio
Jonna Pedersen is a visual artist based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her work moves between the figurative and the abstract, creating visual narratives where humour, ambiguity, and critical reflection intersect. Working as a cultural archaeologist, she uncovers layers of meaning embedded in everyday life, transforming familiar objects and cultural symbols into spaces for reflection on contemporary life, human relationships, and existence.
Working across painting, collage, glass, mixed media, lino prints, textiles, and drawing, Pedersen develops each project through the medium best suited to its ideas. While her materials vary, her practice is united by a curiosity about the spirit of the times and the subtle tensions between the personal, the social, and the cultural.
Pedersen holds a Master of Arts (MA) in Business, Language and Culture from the University of Southern Denmark and has studied at several private art schools. Since 2005, she has exhibited internationally and has received grants from the Danish Arts Foundation and private foundations. Her work has been presented at Museum Ovartaci, Heerup Museum, JANUS – Museum of Contemporary Art, and Kunsthal Vejle and is represented in the Imago Mundi – Luciano Benetton Collection, Jens Olesen’s Collection, Rita Houmann’s Collection, Heerup Museum, and Museum Ovartaci.
Alongside her artistic practice, Pedersen co-curates exhibitions within KOLLEKTIVET, a curatorial collaboration that explores “the artistic engine room” — the processes behind the finished artwork — making visible the artistic processes that normally remain hidden from the public.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Jonna Pedersen (born 1971)
Lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Member of
2026 - Rødovre Arts Council
Curator collective KOLLEKTIVET
Artist’s Society PRO
Danish Visual Artists (BKF)
The Danish Women’s Artist Association (KKS)
2021-2024 Kunsthal Vejle Advisory Board
Grants/Funding
2024
The Danish Arts Foundation - production grant
2021
Danske Billedkunstneres Fagforenings Ophavsretsfond - working grant
2020
Ministry of Culture - working grant
2011
The Danish Arts Foundation - working grant
2010
Hielmstierne/Rosencroneske Foundation - working grant
2009
The Danish Arts Council - travel grant
2008
The Danish Arts Foundation – travel grant
2006
Hielmstierne/Rosencroneske Foundation - working grant
Oticon Foundation – travel grant
Toyota Foundation – travel grant
Selected solo exhibitions
2025
Time Travel, Udstillingsstedet.dk, Denmark
Unity/Sammenhold, Tårn 7, De Langelandske Kunsttårne, Denmark
2024
Brændende Kærlighed, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark
Eftertanker, Møllen, Vejle, Denmark
2023
Brev i april, Kunsthal Vejle Rum21, Denmark
Homo Vita, Birkerød Gl. Præstegård, Denmark
2022
Yes. No! Maybe…, Kunsthal Vejle, Denmark
2021
Existence, Davis Gallery Contemporary Art, Denmark
2019
[ Fone ], Heerup Museum, Denmark
The 20 Commandments, Kunsthal Vejle, Vejle, Denmark. Supported by the Visual Arts Council Vejle Municipality.
2018
Table for Two, Bredgade Kunsthandel, Copenhagen, Denmark. Curator Inge Schjødt
2017
Velbekomme! Kunstforeningen Det Ny Kastet, Thisted, Denmark
2015
Paintings, Mika Contemporary Art Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel
2014
The Face of the City, Augustiana, Augustenborg, Denmark
You Sweet Life, North Art Galleri, Copenhagen, Denmark
2013
The world is Somewhere, Frederikshavn Museum of Art, Denmark
2012
FootAction, GX Gallery, London, England
2009
Etikette, Copenhart Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2008
De elskende og byens gader, Kunstpakhuset, Ikast, Denmark
2008
Tidslommer og knaphuller, Copenhart Gallery, Valby, Denmark
2007
Urbane Fortællinger, Galleriet Else Marie Jensen, Kolding, Denmark
Jørgens Autohal III, Copenhart Gallery, Valby, Denmark
I love New York, Pakhuset, Nykøbing Sj., Denmark
Jørgens Autohal II, Galleri Jakobsen, Hjørring, Denmark
2006
Times Square Utopia, Galleri Jytte Arntzen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Jørgens Autohal I, Byggeriets Hus, Frederiksberg, Denmark
Summer Show 06, Kunsthal Brantebjerg, Odsherred, Denmark
2005
Urban Tribe IV, Gallery Nybro, Copenhagen, Denmark
Urban Tribe III, COBRA/rummet ved Sophienholm, Copenhagen, Denmark
Selected group exhibitions
2026
Inner Space, Outer Space, Another Place, with KOLLEKTIVET, KH7 Artspace, Denmark. Supported by The Danish Arts Foundation.
10 år!, KH7 Artspace, Denmark.
2025
PROvartaci - at være menneske, Museum Ovartaci, Denmark
Det uendelige landskab, Kunsthal Vejle, Denmark
Favntag, Køge Kunstforening, Denmark
2024
Tilbageblik - version II, with KOLLEKTIVET, Kunstbygningen i Vrå, Denmark. Supported by The Danish Arts Foundation.
Travelling, Vestjyllandsudstillingen 2024, JANUS - Museum of Contemporary Art, Denmark. Supported by The Danish Arts Foundation.
Heerup & PRO i dialog, Dronninglund Kunstcenter, Denmark
2023
Tilbageblik - version I, with KOLLEKTIVET, JANUS - Museum of Contemporary Art, Denmark. Supported by The Danish Arts Foundation.
PRO - sådan set…, Portalen, Denmark
Heerup og PRO - på opdagelsesrejse, Heerup Museum, Denmark
2022
International Affairs, Rathenau Hallen G59, Berlin, Germany. Curator Steffen Blunk
People to People, Davis Gallery, Denmark. Curator Awang Behartawan
2021
Efter-billeder, with KOLLEKTIVET, SAK Kunstbygning, Denmark. Supported by The Danish Arts Foundation.
Efter-billeder, with KOLLEKTIVET,JANUS - Museum of Contemporary Art. Supported by The Danish Arts Foundation.
20 x Testimony, Kunsthal Vejle
2020
In My Own Space, Bredgade Kunsthandel, Copenhagen, Denmark
Bank- og Sparekassemuseet, Copenhagen, Denmark
Art Herning, MCH Herning Congress Center
Human and Nature, Art Gallery No. 6, Guangzhou, China. Curator Mari Blomroos-Heininen
2019
PLAY room, Zaandam, Holland
100% Female, Alkmaar, Holland. Curator Jeroen van Paassen
Remix #5, Galleri Kunstmix, Copenhagen, Denmark
2018
Contemporary Art Lethes Art 2018, Ponte de Lima, Portugal. Curator Victor Vidal
POP/UP, Mika Gallery Tel Aviv @ The Refinery, New York, USA
Overgang, Museum Ovartaci, Denmark. Curators Anna Liv Bolther og Amalie M. Nielsen
Fresh Paint Contemporary Art Fair, Tel Aviv, Israel
2017
Fresh Paint Contemporary Art Fair 2017, The Steinhardt Museum, Israel
2016
KKS 100 Year, Museum of Kirsten Kjær, Denmark
Buket, KKS 100 Year, Gammelgaard, Copenhagen, Denmark
Freshpaint Contemporary Art Fair, Tel Aviv, Israel
2015
Hotel Alegra, Jerusalem, Israel
Bozar de Schuurman, Koel310, Alkmaar, Holland
Imago Mundi, Giorgio Cini Foundation, Venice, Italy
Voyage, Voyage, Enschede, Holland
Affordable Art Fair New York
2014
De Kunst 10 Daagse, Bergen, Holland
Are We Already Gone?, FlickerLab, New York, USA. Curated by Negin Sharifzadeh
Global Village 2014, Kulturhuset Brønden, Brøndby, Denmark
Global Village 2014, Landshut, Germany
Viborg International Billboard Painting Festival, Denmark
My Place, Heerup Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark. Curator Anni Lave
2013
An Introduction to Global Village, ABC Treehouse, Amsterdam, Holland
2012
The Big Show 7, Silas Marder Gallery, Bridgehampton, New York, USA
New York City Blues, Augustiana, with Grace Pillard, Robin Tewes, Bjørn Eriksen, Denmark
New York City Blues, Kunstpakhuset Ikast, with Grace Pillard, Robin Tewes, Bjørn Eriksen, Denmark
Global Village, Projekt 072, Alkmaar, Holland. Curator Jeroen van Paassen
Global Village, Kulturhuset Brønden, Denmark. Curator Jeroen van Paassen
Global Village, Château Sully, Burgundy, France. Curator Jeroen van Paassen
2011
ProjectMailArtBooks, KNH (Kunstenaars Noord/Holland), Haarlem, Holland. Curator Ed Hanssen
Chain Letter, Samsøn Projects, Boston, USA
New York Art Marathon, Alexandre Gertsman Gallery, New York, USA. Curator David Gibson
Parcours de l'Art, Avignon, France
Consumer Art, Projekt 072, Alkmaar, Holland. Curator Jeroen van Paassen
Optipism, DadaPost, Berlin, Germany. Curator Lars Kræmmer
La Dolce Vita, YXIE Lab, Alkmaar, Holland. Curator Jeroen van Paassen
2010
2010 International Fine Art, FIFA, Johannesburg/Durban/Capetown, South Africa
2010 International Fine Art, FIFA, China/Honduras/New Zealand
2010 International Fine Art, FIFA, Deutsches Sport & Olympia Museum, Germany
Fodboldkunst, Augustiana – Kunstcenter og Skulpturpark, Augustenborg, Denmark
Global Village, Alkmaar, Holland. Curator Jeroen van Paassen, Stiching White Cube
2008
Zephyr, Monkdogz Urban Art, New York, USA
2007
Artists Autumn Exhibition (KE), Den Frie Udstillingsbygning, Copenhagen, Denmark
Artists Summer Exhibition (KS), Janusbygningen, Tistrup, Denmark
2006
Inaugural show, Monkdogz Urban Art, New York, USA
To the moon, Alice...,Heidi Cho Gallery, New York, USA
Nordic Moods, Galeria La Frutéria, Barcelona, Spain
Galerie Zone F, Berlin, Germany
Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
Artists Eastern Exhibition (KP), Århus Kunstbygning, Århus, Denmark
Artists Summer Exhibition (KS), Janusbygningen, Tistrup, Denmark
Artists Autumn Exhibition (KE), Den Frie Udstillingsbygning, Copenhagen, Denmark
Hvidovre Juried Exhibition, Hvidovre Bibliotek, Hvidovre, Denmark
2005
Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
2005
Sisters, Berlin, Germany
2004
Hvidovre Juried Exhibition, Hvidovre Bibliotek, Hvidovre, Denmark
Publications - selected
[ Fone ] Sexism Existence Jonna Pedersen Works and poetry 2017-2023 Book with text by Ph.D., Associate Professor Mette Simonsen Abildgaard - Art Historian Mette Kristensen, Cinnober Edition 2023, 224 pages
Brændende Kærlighed. Danish foodculture according to Jonna Pedersen. Book with text by Inge Schjødt, Cinnober Edition 2017, 60 pages
New York City Blues. Catalog with text by Ole Lindboe & Bente Jensen, Cinnober Edition, 2012
Documentary. Jonna Pedersen Painting. Book with text by Trine Ross, Bente Jensen and Ed McCormack. 160 pages, Cinnober Edition 2011
Global Village. Catalog with text by Jeroen van Paassen, Gigaboek, 140 pages, 2010
Deadpan Danes on a Mission of Cool Text by Ed McCormack, Gallery & Studio, New York, 2008,
Urbane Fortællinger. Catalog with text by Ole Lindboe, 2007
The breadth of Reality. Jonna Pedersen and Painting. Book with text by Ole Lindboe. ArtPage. 2005
URBAN TRIBE. Catalog with text by Ole Lindboe, 2005
Commissions
2025 Unity/Sammenhold, De Langelandske Kunsttårne, Denmark
2023 Spinderihallerne, Denmark
2021 Patrade IPR Consulting House, Denmark
2019 Ørbygård Nursing Home, Denmark
2014 Viborg International Billboard Festival, Denmark
2013 Headspace, Denmark
2010 Happy Xmas Tree, Denmark
2010 2010 International Fine Art, FIFA World Cup, South Africa
2009 Danmarksindsamlingen, TV2, Denmark
2008 Finansforbundet, Copenhagen, Denmark
Collections
Art- and Museum Library, Cologne, Germany
Jens Olesen’s Art Collection
Rita Houmann’s Art Collection
Kirsten & Stefan Mordhorst Art Collection
Luciano Benetton Collection Imago Mundi, Italy
Alexandre Gertsman Contemporary Art Collection, New York, USA
Sociale Verzekeringsbank, Zaanstad, Holland
Than Mór Mail Art Museum, Hungary
Assemblage Suite Hotel, Tel Aviv, Israel
JANUS - Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum Ovartaci, Denmark
Heerup Museum, Denmark
Rødovre Erhvervsråd / Rødovre Erhvervspris 2015, Denmark
Viborg International Billboard Painting Foundation, Denmark
Rødovre Kommune – Lokalhistorisk Arkiv, Denmark
Gladsaxe Kommune, Denmark
Private art collectors in Denmark, England, USA, Norway, Sweden, Israel
Residencies
2018 Berlin appartment Bkf, Berlin, Germany
2018 Kunstnerbolig ART 56, Denmark
2010 Fanø Malerhuset Bkf, Denmark
Travels and Study Trips
2026, 2025, 2018, 2006, 2005 Berlin
2013, 2010 Amsterdam
2012, 2011 London
2008, 2007, 2006 New York
2006 Barcelona
Jury Member
2019, 2020 Drawing Marathon International
2014 Nordkraftudstillingen, Kunsthal Nord
2012 Kerteminde Art Festival
Education
1999/2003-04 Visual Art Schools in Copenhagen and London
1996 Cand. Negot / Master of Arts (MA) in Business, Language and Culture from University of Southern Denmark