Discover Denmark’s Impressive collection of art

My top picks for a cultural day out in Denmark.

Photographs: Erin Gustafson

Text: Erin Gustafson

As diminutive as Denmark may be, they do host a bevy of amazing art museums all around the country. From classics to contemporary, there are plenty of places for you to peruse it all. With a rich cultural history and artistic legacy of its own, you’ll find Danish artists as well as those of international acclaim.

All of the museums listed have incorporated the new health measures to ensure all visitors and staff stay protected. Note, from 29 October, visitors will need to wear a face mask when inside all museums in Denmark. Some offer timed entry tickets you can book online to assist with safe distancing. Check their websites for specific recommendations, as well as opening hours and ticket prices for each location before your tour.

ON JUTLAND

Skagens Museum - Brøndumsvej 4, 9990 Skagen

At the tippy top of Jutland sits the beautiful windswept scenery of Skagen, where water and light have attracted visitors and artists for centuries. At the end of the 19th century, the little fishing village of Skagen was home to a colony of Scandinavian artists famous for painting scenes outside (en plein air). Step back in time inside the museum to get up close and personal with the locals and landscapes bathed in that world-famous light.

ARoS - Aros Allé 2, 8000 Aarhus

An icon in Aarhus, the ARoS Museum of Modern Art with its brilliant rainbowed rooftop is a must-visit. Boasting the oldest collection outside Copenhagen, wander the rings through world-class displays of modern art. Of particular interest to internationals living in Denmark might be the “Far From Home” exhibition that explores modern society’s movements and “asks the salient question – where is home?” Wash yourself in colour and see the city from above as you walk through Olafur Eliasson’s “Your Rainbow Panorama,” a unique experience at ARoS.

ON FUNEN

Kunstmuseum Brandt - Amfipladsen 7, 5000 Odense

Brandts is the largest art museum on Denmark’s middle island Fyn. With five stories of displays, you’ll find creative installations using sculpture, painting, photography and video. Housed in a reclaimed textile factory, Brandts has become the cultural centre of Odense. Of interest now is a curation of short films made by women - “Significant Women,” on through the end of the year.

ON ZEALAND

Arken Museum of Modern Art - Skovvej 100, 2635 Ishøj

Thirty minutes south of Copenhagen in Ishøj, the Arken Museum occupies a striking building on a manmade island near the sea. The structure itself a perfect backdrop for a rotating curation of thought-provoking exhibitions. Don’t miss the colourful whimsy of Paola Pivi’s brightly feathered and life-size polar bears that fill the front hall. “We are the Alaskan Tourists” is on until January 2021. Or wander around an elephant suspended upside down on the wall, part of the interesting “Animals in Art” exhibition - also on through January.

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art - Gl Strandvej 13, 3050 Humlebæk

Make your way up the gorgeous North Zealand coastline to the little hamlet of Humlebæk and step inside the incredible Louisiana Museum. At once cosy and accessible, this museum inside a meandering villa sits right on the Danish sea. An impressive permanent collection is balanced and energised with a steady rotation of new exhibits from some of the greatest artists, past and present, around the world. Bring the littles along as Louisiana has brilliant facilities for families to engage and interact with the art. Book a slot in the Children’s wing and don’t miss the epic sculpture park that encircles the grounds.