Jóhan Martin Christiansen (b. Tórshavn, the Faroe Islands,1987) is currently working and living in Copenhagen. He graduated as Master of Fine Arts In Visual Art from Malmö Art Academy (Lunds University) in 2014. From autumn 2023 he took part of the one-year long interdisciplinary course Of Public Interest at the Royal Institute of Fine Arts in Stockholm.


How to handle a material, and how materials are handled within a specific context – physically, emotionally and philosophically – are among the questions that he pose in his practice. A practice including media such as installation, plasterreliefs, printmaking and video. In the materiality, forms and titles of the pieces, small deltas of meanings and connotations appear referring to natural and constructed environments, urban spaces and situations, language and translation, queer body experiences as well as the baroque and pop music.



Curriculum Vitae


Upcoming exhibitons and projects

2024              Thread, National Gallery of the Faroe Islands (group show)

                     RELIEF, Gamla Seglhúsið, Klaksvík, Faroe Islands (solo)

2025              Don't tell me 'cause it hurts, Spanien 19c, Aarhus, Denmark (solo)    

 

Solo and duo exhibitions

2024              Jeppe Sleeping, Bonne Espérance, Copenhagen, Denmark (solo)

                     DOUBLE / 5+12 Sculptures, duo show with Kaare Golles, Kongegaarden, Korsør, Denmark

                     RELIEF, Kohta, Helsinki, Finland (solo)

2023              Don't tell me 'cause it hurts, The Smoking Room, Hoydalar, Tórshavn, the Faroe Islands (solo)

                     Leave Me Breathless, Danske Grafikeres Hus, Copenhagen, Denmark (solo)

                     Leave Me Breathless, Ole Vinter Room, Printer's Proof, Copenhagen, Denmark (solo)

2022              FALL, Víngarðurin, Tórshavn, the Faroe Islands (solo)

                     You are a flower, and in the winter, I miss You, Heerz Tooya, Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria (solo)

                     Du er en blomst, og om vinteren savner jeg dig, Galleri 1,4m3, Copenhagen, Denmark (solo)

                     tell me more, tell me more, FLAG project, North Atlantic House, Copenhagen, Denmark

2021              Tell It To My Heart, Steinprent, Tórshavn, the Faroe Islands

2020              Speaking in Tongues, Møstings Hus, Copenhagen, Denmark (duo with Hansina Iversen)

2018              Lonely Hearts, Listahøllin, Tórshavn, the Faroe Islands (duo with Hansina Iversen)

                     Commissioned work for Glasir, gymnasium in Tórshavn, the Faroe Islands

2017              TRACES, North Atlantic House, Copenhagen, Denmark (solo)

                     DISH, Katuaq, Nuuk, Greenland (solo)

2016              TRACES, National Gallery of the Faroe Islands (solo)

2014              DRESS, Steinprent, Tórshavn, the Faroe Islands

                     LIGHTGREEN, DAYDREAM, EYESHADOW, KHM Gallery, Malmö, Sweden (MFA show)

2012              Crazy, Zig-Zag ~ About the Understanding of Space and on the Matters of My

                     Latest Lover, R, HENNINGSENgallery, Copenhagen, Denmark (solo)

                     Walk, Walk, "Object This Picture"-project room, Copenhagen, Denmark

2011              Self-Portrait in Very Dark, FIFTH FLOOR, Copenhagen, Denmark (solo)

                     Sarah Lucas Turned into a Large Scale Dildo and a Flamingo, sitespecific window installation on

                     Istedgade 107, Copenhagen, Denmark

2009              Koloni Box, Müllers Pakkhús, Tórshavn, the Faroe Islands


Group exhibitions

2024              SAMMENBRUD, Ved Skoven, Falster, Denmark (group show curated by CharlotteThrane)

                     Fog Swept Cargo, Scandinavia House, New York City, USA (group show curated by Kinna Poulsen)

                     Body, The National Gallery of the Faroe Islands

2023              Faith and Image, The National Gallery of the Faroe Islands 

                     St. Olaf's Exhibition, The National Gallery of the Faroe Islands

                     óSTILT, Víngarðurin, Tórshavn, the Faroe Islands

2022-24         Down Иorth - North Atlantic Triennal, Portland Museum of Art, Maine, US,

                     Reykjavík Museum of Art, Iceland and Bildmuseet, Umeå, Sweden

2022              Faroese Contemporary, The National Gallery of theFaroe Islands

                     SKITSER TIL EN DRØM, MUUSMANNs, Copenhagen, Denmark

2021              Nature in Transition - Shifting Identities, Nordic House, Reykjavík, Iceland

2020              Conversations About Fog, North Atlantic House, Copenhagen, Denmark

2019              Always Coming Home, G! festival, Syðrugøta, the Faroe Islands

                     VideoVideo, Tårnrummet, Nikolaj Kunsthal, Copenhagen, Denmark

                     Half angel. Do you see, FLAG, a collaboration between Gudrun Hasle and Nuuk Art Museum

2018              Materiality and Nature II, G! festival, Syðrugøta, the Faroe Islands

                     Resonans, Pop-Up Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark

                     Cast Away, Galleri Tom Christoffersen, Copenhagen, Denmark

                     Face of Another, Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, Denmark

                     Objektivitet, Ringsted Galleriet, Ringsted, Denmark

                     Vibrant Matter, SAK kunstbygning, Svendborg, Denmark

2017              Materiality and Nature I, G! festival, Syðrugøta, the Faroe Islands

2016              Sjá tú blánar, Steinprent, Tórshavn, the Faroe Islands

                     Rainfall, Goya Curtain, Tokyo, Japan

2015              The Hot Show, Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Copenhagen, Denmark

                     [UDEN TITEL 15], Kunsthal NORD, Aalborg, Denmark

                     Group show, Galleri Arnstedt, Östra Karup, Sweden

                     Les Soirées, Maison MACA, Athens, Greece

2014              UNDERSTRØM [UNDERCURRENT], ARoS, Aarhus, Denmark

                     FAREWELL, 427, Riga, Latvia

                     A Retrospective About Jan Bäcklund, Toves, Copenhagen, Denmark

2013              PoemObject, ANNAELLEGALLERY, Stockholm, Sweden

                     /ti’tano/, Teatro Titano, San Marino, Republique of San Marino

                     BEERS 4, Byens Kro, Copenhagen, Denmark

2012              Dear Gertrud, Pleasant, Copenhagen, Denmark

                     BFA Graduation Show, KHM Gallery, Malmö, Sweden

2011              Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark

2010              SommerSkulpturSøby, Søby, Ærø, Denmark

2009              Authentic Forgeries, KHM Gallery, Malmö, Sweden

                     Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark

2005-2021      St. Olaf's Exhibition, National Gallery of the Faroe Islands


Artist books

2023              Conversations With Mamma, with poems by Beinir Bergsson

2018              Lonely Hearts, with text by Kinna Poulsen and letters by Hansina Iversen and

                     Jóhan Martin Christiansen, layout by Svanna Højgaard Joensen, photos by

                     Torben Eskerod

2014              DRESS, with texts by Kinna Poulsen and Maria Bordorff, correspondance by

                     Rannva Kunoy and Jóhan Martin Christiansen, layout and publishing John Dalsgaard


Selected articles, interviews and mentions (click on text for links)

2024              Now, music by Kristian Vistrup Madsen, exhibition essay, Kohta, Helsinki

                     “Something else that remains unknown” by Maša Tomšič, exhibition essay, Bonne Espérance

                     Fog Swept Cargo by Kinna Poulsen, exhibition article, Scandinavia House, NYC, USA

                     Stór lítil framsýning um tráð og trá, review by Kinna Poulsen, Listaportal.com, September 7th

2023              Dupult, ivasamt, øvugt og fleirtýtt, article/review by Kinna Poulsen, Listaportal.com, June 19th

                     Kultureliten vill inte låtsas om Norrland, review by Gunilla Brordrej, Expressen, June 18th

                     Jóhan Martin Christiansen: Leave Me Breathless, exhibition essay by Kinna Poulsen

                     Brend minni [Burned memories], exhibition essay by Kinna Poulsen

2022              Down Иorth - Environment: Glacier and Land text by Markús Þór Andrésson, exhibiton catalogue 

                     Stál - Blómur - Gips - Poesi, interview with Kinna Poulsen, Dimmalætting

                     BROT / Leyst um list, review by Kinna Poulsen, Dimmalætting

2021              Conversations About Fog, text by Kinna Poulsen, exhibition catalouge

                     Ídnaðarkend og kensluborin list í Steinprenti, review by Solveig Hanusardóttir Olsen, Dimmalætting

2020              If we speak in tonguees, will anyone understand, interview with Hansina Iversen,

                     Jóhan Martin Christiansen and Theodor Eli Dam Olsen, I DO ART, December 20th

                     Der sker noget mod nord, Mai Misfeldt, Kristeligt Dagblad, November 18th

                     A Decade, Viewed from the Outside, article by Anders Kreuger, Kunstkritikk

2018              Resonance, article by Anna Holm, exhibition catalouge, Pop-Up Contemporary, Copenhagen

                     Når livet gir deg sitroner, Mariann Enge, Kunstkritikk, March 6th

                     Vibrant Matter, text by Nanna Stjernholm Jepsen & Stine Kähler, exhibition catalouge

                     On the wints of art again, article by Ingrid Bjarnastein, Atlantic Review

2017              Flygtige bevægelser, Torben Weirup, Berlingske, June 8th

                     Om vi alle er nordiske, er noen da mer nordiske enn andre?, article by Mariann Enge, Kunstkritikk

                     Dish! om udstilling et sted**, Stine Lundberg Hansen, Kunst.gl

2016              SPOR, articles by Nils Ohrt, Kim Simonsen and Maria Kappel Blegvad, exhibition catalouge,

                     National Gallery of the Faroe Islands

                     Værkstedsbesøg - Skønheden i en beskidt papkasse, Tina Kristensen, Magasinet

                     Kunst, Copenhagen

                     Ti spørgsmål: Jóhan Martin Christiansen, Maria Bordorff, Kunstkritikk, September 9th

                     Grindin: Blæur eru vorðin list, interview by Ivan Niclasen and Sissal Kampmann on KVF (Television

                     of the Faroe Islands)

                     Julekalender 4. december: Maria Bordorff, Kunstkritikk

2015              Vad konst ska vara, Christine Antaya, Helsingborgs Dagblad, May 9th

                     [UDEN TITEL 15], text by Henrik Borch-Lips, exhibition catalouge

                     Ung energi hos Nicolai Wallner, Bente Scavenius, Børsen, January 9th

2014              Grindin, interview by Ivan Niclasen on KVF (Television of the Faroe Islands), October 16th

                     Ny kunst langsomt på trapperne, review by Ole Bak Jakobsen, kunsten.nu

                     In a Perpetuate Transformation, Olga Zolin & Kell Johan Frimor, Kopenhagen                

                     Goethe, Rimbaud, Stravinsky, article by Torben Zenth, Kopenhagen

                     Nya Konstnärer i Malmö, article by Frans Josef Petersson, Kunstkritikk

                     Ethereal Thoughts on the Shadow and Such Matters, MFA essay by Jóhan Martin Christiansen,

                     Malmö Art Academy

2013              Norden og Europa, text by Jørgen Bukdal, edited by Carsten Juhl, Billedkunstskolernes forlag, 

                     Denmark

2012              Sinnislig upplating í sikk og sakk, article by Kinna Poulsen, Listinblog

                     The Making of Jóhan, article/interview by Louise Steiwer, Kopenhagen

2011              Tag en tur med i pløret, Michael Jeppesen, Information, Septeembeer 20th


Articles and interviews on/with other artists and subjects

2024              Protest, maske, yngling, strejke - lidt om mit udvalg af Janus Kambans værker, article published by

                     Periskop, University of Copenhagen

                     Notes from under the bridge, poem for Tiny Park Festival, Of Public Interest

2023              Some people are turned on by rejection, article for catalogue published by Arken Museum of  

                     Contemporary Art in connection with the exhibition Bricks — Per Kirkeby

2016              Honorary article on Hansina Iversen on the occasion of her fiftieth birthday, Varðin

2015              Heimanna framtíðir og tátíðir - about the Venice biennale, Dimmalætting, October 30th

2013              Lilac horizons Lavender sky, interview with Tiril Hasselknippe, Kopenhagen, January 23rd

                     Det lille element af selvblottelse er vitigt, interview with Peter Land, Kopenhagen, March 15th

2012              Interview with Maiken Bent on her exhibition at IMO, Kopenhagen, March 2012

2010              Interview with Rannva Kunoy on her exhibition at The Nordich House in the Faroe Islands,

                     Kopenhagen, august


Honorary grants, stipends and residencies

2024              Three-year work scholarship, the Faroese Culture Foundation

                     Production funding: Danish Art Foundation, Dansk Tennis Fond, New Carlsberg Foundation,

                     Den Hielmstierne-Rosencronske Stiftelse, Rådet for Visuel Kunst (City of Copenhagen), Faroese

                     Culture Foundation, Faroese Ministry of Culture

                     Travel grant, Augustinus Foundation, Faroese Ministry of Culture

2023              Work scholarship, the Danish Art Foundation  

                     Residency at Danish Art Workshops

                     Production funding: Grosserer L.F. Foghts Fond, Poul Johansen Fonden, Lizzi og Mogens Staal

                     Fonden, Statens Kunstfond, Faroese Culture Foundation, Faroese Ministry of Culture, Rådet for

                     Visuel Kunst (City of Copenhagen)

2022              Production funding, Den Hielmstierne-Rosencronske Stiftelse

                     Residency at ARV.Iinternational, Bulgaria

2021              Honorary grant, Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen Talent Award     

                     Work scholarship, the Danish Art Foundation and the Faroese Culture Foundation

2020              Honorary funding, Winkel & Magnussens Memory Foundation, Denmark

                     Production funding: Akademiraadet and Grosserer L.F. Foghts Fond

2019              Work residency at Danish Art Workshops

                     Production funding: Faroese Film Foundation

2018              Work scholarship, the Faroese Culture Foundation

2017              Work scholarship, the Danish Art Foundation 

                     Listaflog, Atlantic Airways Art Grant (with Hansina Iversen, Lonely Hearts)

2016              Work scholarship, the Danish Art Foundation and the Faroese Culture Foundation            

2014              Honorary grant, Eva och Hugo Bergmans Memory Foundation, Sweden


Other activities

2024              Everyday sculptures, primary school day course, Kunsthal Kongegården, Korsør, DK

                     Everyday sculptures, course at Faroese Folk High School (Føroya Fólkaháskúli), Tórshavn, FO

2023              Decolonized?, talk with Margaret Tali, University of Tartu, Estonia

                     Everyday sculptures, teaching at elementary school, Listaleypurin

                     Presentation at Gathering Spells study day as part of DE.a.RE - DEconstruct and REbuild,

                     mannaged by BJCEM-Biennale des jeunes créateurs de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée, at 

                     Fluks Art Center, University of Adger, Kristiansand, Norway

                     DISH - A Place of Family History and Ruin, talk at the Confrontin Coloniality seminar at The Nordic

                     House, Tórshavn, the Faroe Islands

                     Member of the advisory committee for the Nordic House in the Faroe Islands

2022 -            Jury member, Listaflog, Atlantic Airways Art Grant

2021 -            Board member, BKF - Billedkunstnernes Forbund (Danish Visual Artists)

                     Teaching / Sculpture workshop at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, DK

2019              Jury member, Norddok, The Danish Film Institute

2018              Lecture on materiality and nature with Kim Simonsen, University of the Faroe Islands

2017              Artist talk, Göteborg Book Fair, Sweden

2016              Board member, art steering group for new hospital (H-building) in Tórshavn,

                     the Faroe Islands

2016 -            Board member, the Council of Faroese Artists (Listafólkasamband Føroya)

2015              Jury member, Future Legends: Nordic, Palladium, Malmö, Sweden 


Public Collections

Danish Art Foundation, Faroe Islands Art Association / National Gallery of the Faroe Islands, Nuuk Art Museum, Nykredit


Artistic education

2023-24          Of Public Interest, Royal Institute of Art, Stockholm, Sweden

2012-14          Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts, Malmö Art Academy, Sweden

2009-12          Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts, Malmö Art Academy, Sweden

2008-09          Foundation course, Kunsthøjskolen på Ærø, Denmark

2007-08          Foundation course, Kunsthøjskolen i Holbæk, Denmark


Member of Kunstnersamfundet, BKF (Billedkunstnernes Forbund), UKK - Organization for Artists, Curators, and Art Mediators, MYND - Føroysk Myndlistafólk.