Mikkel Carl, born in 1976 in Kalundborg, Denmark, is a mixed-media artist whose practicefocuses on the link between concept and materiality. His work is influenced by twentiethcentury avant-garde and neo-avant-garde movements, as well aspostmodernism’sstrategies of appropriation. Carl retroactively traces history by using techniques such asrepetition, and the re-contextualization of material properties in his artworks. MikkelCarl has a BA in the History of Ideas and an MFA from The Royal Danish Academy of FineArts, Copenhagen. He currently works as an artist, writer, and freelance curator.
Solo Exhibitions include TBA, Viborg Kunsthal, Viborg (2019); "Hippies Don't Own theSun", Les Gens Heureux, Copenhagen (2018); "TBA", M23, New York (2018);"Haters WillSay it's Photoshop (part II)", Galleri Jacob Bjørn, Aarhus (2018); "Greatest Hits", HfKoD,Holstebro (2018); "Flex on you Haters (part I)", Kbh_Kabinet, Glostrup(2017); "BetweenFinancial Entanglement and Corporal Decay", Last Resort, Copenhagen (2017); "The ShowIs Over, but Pictures Are Finally Up (retrospective)", Future Suburban Contemporary,Brønshøj (Curated by Jens Ivar Kjetså)(2017);"Those Who Are Awake Have a World inCommon, While Each Person Asleep Has a World of His Own"–Solo presentation, M23,Code Art Fair, Copenhagen (2017); Bad Moon Rising", Montana Salen, Kunstforeningen GLSTRAND, Copenhagen(2017);"Now Moving Towards the Inner Circles of Reality", (homeof) Ana Cristea, New York (2017);"Smart Landscapes", Caves Art Center, Taipei, Taiwan(2016);Solo presentation w/Last Resort, Art Rotterdam, Rotterdam (2016); "LanguageDissolves as a Product of Love Begins", ANNAELLEGALLERY, Stockholm (2015); "A Host ofPossibleDrama and Exchange", Unknown Cargo, Copenhagen(2015); "House Rules for theLiving and the Dead", @home, Soroe(2015); "Talion", formic, Copenhagen(2015); "We AreAll Workers", Kunsthal Nord, Aalborg(2015); Solo presentation w/ Last Resort, Tropical,Le Carreau du Temple, Paris (Curated by GiorgioGalotti) (2014); "Calculated Optimism",Last Resort, Copenhagen (2014);"Grey Water", Point B, New York (2014); Solopresentation w/Last Resort, Market Art Fair, Stockholm (2014); "R.I.P. curl", Henningsengallery (2014); "0-110 DVC", ANNAELLEGALLERY, Stockholm (2014); "It looks fake, but itfeels real", Accademia di Danimarca, Rome (2013);"Poses", The Romanian Academy, Rome(2013); "Brand New Paintings Caught in the Headlights of Parking Cars", Tallinn Tuesdays,Tallinn (2013); “Fuck Yes", Tranen, Hellerup (2013); "New Paintings Caught in theHeadlights of Parking Cars", Ringsted Galleriet, Ringsted (2012); "Boredom is deep andmysterious", 77m3, Aarhus (2012);"too sexy for my skin", Henningsen gallery, Copenhagen(2012);"The Invisible Hand", Dadapost, Berlin (2011); "IN OUT", CopenhagenContemporary 2010, Kopenhagen Art Institute, Copenhagen (2010);"The Number of theBeast", Pladsen, Copenhagen (2009); "Sky Above"–Heaven Below, Pladsen, Copenhagen(2008).Group exhibitionsinclude Uprising, Schloss Görne, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Berlin, Germany (2022); "NATURE–Home and Workplace", Ljungberg Museum,Sweeden (Curated by Mette L. Thøgersen & Lisbeth Eugenie Christensen) (2019); "How to Start an Apartment in your Gallery", Les Gens Heureux, Copenhagen (2018). ExhibitionI,II, III–Bech Risvig Collection, Vestjyllands Kunstpavillon, Videbæk(2018); "SpectaSurPlus Store", Galleri Specta, Copenhagen(2018); "Den Frie Udstilling, Den Frie"-Centreof Contempåorary Art, Copenhagen(2018); "NATURE–Home and Workplace",JohannesLarsen Museet, Kerteminde (2018); "Interdimensionale", Gammelgaard, Herlev (Curatedby Søren Hüttel & Søren Brøgger) (2018); "Cool, Calm and Collected", ARoS Aarhus ArtMuseum, Aarhus(2017); "Textures", Koldinggade 12 (Curated by Søren Hüttel)(2017);"Engros", Grønttorvet, Copenhagen (Curated bySkulpturi)(2017); "Kiosk", SydhavnStation, Copenhagen (2017); "Den Frie Udstilling, Den Frie"–Centre of Contemporary Art,Copenhagen (2017); "SOMEDAY A REAL RAIN WILL COME AND WASH ALL THE SCUM OFFTHE STREETS", Nordic Contemporary, Paris (Curated by Andreas Emenius) (2016); ISCPFall Open Studios, International Studio & Curatorial Program, New York(2016); Code ArtFair, Copenhagen (w/ Anonymous Gallery, Mexico City) (2016); "BODY HOLES", Fear ofContent @ 9th Berlin Biennale (Curated by New Scenario in collab. w/ Nuno Patricio, OFluxo)(2016); "Aujourd'huije disoui", Galeria da Boavista, Lisbon (curated by Aujourd'hui+ Domenico de Chirico)(2016); "Den Frie Udstilling, Den Frie"–Centre of ContemporaryArt, Copenhagen(2016); "Alphabet", MateriaMultipli, Rome (curated by: Erica Cristadoro)(2016); Material Art Fair, Mexico City (w/ Last Resort, Copenhagen) (2016); The Wrong"–New Digital Art Biennale (2016); "Episode 4: Bathroom", OSLO 10, Basel (Organized byAgatha Valkyrie Ice, Paul Barsch & Tilman Hornig) (2016);"Sliver Surfer" (curated by JustQuist and Koen Delaere) (2015); Officielle Art Fair, Paris (w/ Last Resort, Copenhagen)(2015); "The Lorax Poems", Good Work Gallery, New York (curated by Zachary Smith)(2015); Artissima Art Fair, Turin (w/ Last Resort, Copenhagen) (2015); "TRUST"–TheSalon, Copenhagen Art Festival, Kunstforeningen GL STRAND, Copenhagen(2015);"Crystal Readings", Soy Capitáin, Berlin (curated by Gislind Köhler)(2015);"TEXTafter TEKST, Den Frie"–Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen (2015); "Club ofMatinée Idolz", Co2 Gallery, Turin (2015); "Searching for Devices", basis, Frankfurt(curated by Gislind Köhler)(2015);"From Point A to PointB and back again", Point B, NewYork (2015).
Highlights and collections
Permanent collection at ARoS, HEART, Arken, and Randers Kunstmuseum.honorary grant from Aage og Yelva Nimbs Fond, and The Danish Arts Foundation has twice awarded his exhibion.