ABOUT - MIE OLISE KJÆRGAARD

Kjærgaard works in painting, occasionally sculptural objects and installation. Graduating an MFA from Central St. Martins in London in 2007, Olise is interested in society as a construction and the role of the Woman as a Construction.

Olise works in painterly strokes and large scales. Painting since the age of 15, she has taken a long and curved journey – actually starting out working with women figuration with a feminist angle in her teens, a circle has been formning over the last years.

Muses Having Fun* are paintings based on thoughts of woman-hood, in history, art history and personal present life. In the works there are strong references to history; both suffragettes, women who tore off the corset to ride a bike, play tennis or music, as well as a series of paintings of a more fantastic scenery, with women (girls or witches) simply taking off on dangerous animals, being wild, fierce or just adventurous. All living their life as subjects, experiencing life from the inside and out.

A lot of the titles of the works Olise borrows from earlier works of women artists, the titles are picked out of hundreds, and suit the works; yet the titles wants to pay a hommage to these amazing Women.

Olise lives in Copenhagen with her Son, Neo. She grew up on an island and has started from scratch by herself in 6 cities – in 3 countries; she has had 27 artist studios, plays tennis, builds wooden constructions and hopes to get a dog one day.

– A lot of these sceneries are reflected in the paintings.

Kjærgaard is currently working on an upcoming solo exhibition at Traphold Museum of Art and Design in Denmark, opening January 15 in Denmark.
She has exhibited at UMOCA – Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, MFAH – Museum of Fine Art Houston, MAAA – Museo de Arte Acarigua, Venezuela; Nikolaj Kunsthal (DK), SNYK – Skive New Museum of Art, (DK), Torrance Art Museum in LA; Himmerlands Kunstmuseum(DK); The Journal Gallery(NYC), Honor Fraser, LA (NYC), VSF, Dallas, Karpidas Collection, TX and Hans Alf Gallery in Copenhagen.

Kjærgaard holds an MFA from Central St. Martins in London, as well as a Master in Architecture from Aarch, Aarhus(DK) + The Bartlett, UCL, London (UK). She has been travelling to artist-recidencies such as Skowhegan, ME; ISCP New York, Art OMI and 18th Street Art Centre, LA.