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Den Frie is an exhibition space dedicated to showcasing trailblazing contemporary art, rooted in a collective tradition. Founded in 1891 by the artists’ association Den Frie Udstilling in response to the conservative artistic norms of the time, Den Frie has always championed the values of community and collaboration. Inspired by the cooperative movement, Den Frie has provided an essential platform for free and experimental art since its inception–challenging the prevailing zeitgeist, supporting ground-breaking developments, and empowering artists to push the boundaries of how art can be expressed and experienced.

For over 125 years, Den Frie has been housed in an iconic wooden building located opposite Østerport Station in Copenhagen. Designed by J.F. Willumsen, a pioneering figure in Danish art, the building itself is a testament to innovation and creativity. Its facade features a stunning golden relief of Pegasus with a young man on its back—an enduring symbol of poetic power and artistic inspiration.

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History

Den Frie Udstilling was established in 1891 as a protest against the censorship at the Spring Exhibition at Charlottenborg. Just two years later, Den Frie hosted international luminaries such as Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin in its original premises at Rådhuspladsen.

In 1898, Den Frie moved into a new building designed by J.F. Willumsen, featuring large, open exhibition spaces with natural light, symbolizing the new artistic currents of the time. This building was constructed between H.C. Ørstedsparken and Tivoli but was relocated in 1913 to its current location on Oslo Plads, where it was designated a protected building in 1986.

In 2014, Den Frie was expanded with a new lower level, which today houses Café Pegasus and the exhibition space OSLO. In the spring of 2024, a restoration of Den Frie’s entrance area began and was completed in March 2025. With respect for the building’s history—and an eye to the future—both the forecourt and the foyer were carefully renewed. The extensive project was carried out by Praksis Arkitekter and landscape architects DETBLÅ. Visual artist FOS also created unique lamps for the foyer, produced at a glass workshop in Murano.

Sculptures

In the green area surrounding Den Frie, three striking sculptures engage in a vivid dialogue with the urban space.

The internationally renowned German artist Isa Genzken is behind the monumental work Vollmond, which, with its 16.5-meter-high structure, reaches toward the sky like an extra moon above the city. By day, it stands raw and sculptural in the cityscape, while at night it lights up, becoming a romantic landmark in Copenhagen.

On the other side of the building stands Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen’s sketch for a sculpture of Queen Margrete I on horseback. Sketches for the equestrian monument — a tribute to a powerful female figure at a time when women were still nearly invisible in public life — were exhibited at Den Frie in both 1897 and 1910. A bronze cast of the 1897 sketch is now permanently installed in the new green area by Den Frie.

In the garden behind Den Frie stands The Egyptian Egg (2016) by Danish contemporary artist Sophia Kalkau. The ellipsoidal sculpture, three meters long, two meters high, and weighing 17 tons, is named in tribute to the ancient Egyptian temples that inspired J.F. Willumsen when he designed the Den Frie Exhibition Building around the year 1900.

OSLO solo projects at Den Frie

OSLO is Den Frie’s lower-floor exhibition space dedicated to solo projects. At OSLO, we produce and present new works by artists of different nationalities, generations, and media, made specifically for Den Frie and with a focus on social and political urgency, aiming at making sense of the world today. Den Frie was founded by artists with an experimental vision and collective spirit. OSLO continues this legacy by supporting innovative artistic practices in the present.The name OSLO is a reference to Den Frie’s location at Oslo Plads and an anagram of solo. Always free entrance for all guests.

The OSLO exhibition programme

Past:

Atiéna R. Kilfa: Special Effect

Will Benedict & Steffen Jørgensen: The Restaurant Season 2

Amy O’Neill: This’s and that’s’

Sian Kristoffersen: Ice-pleasure

Frieda Toranzo Jaeger: Surface Intelligence

Toaster

Toaster is a collaborative initiative between Husets Teater and Den Frie, serving as a dynamic platform that explores the intersection of theatre, performance, and visual art. The project aims to challenge traditional genre boundaries, create new performance formats, and enhance the audience experience in unique and engaging ways. Read more

Upcoming program:

16.04 – 03.05.26, Toaster Performance Biennale

Past program:

05.06.25 — 08.06.25, The Performance Bulletin

The Artists’ Association Den Frie Udstilling

Founded in 1891, Den Frie Udstilling is Denmark’s oldest artists’ association and plays a significant role in the Danish art history and the country’s cultural landscape. The association owns the building located on Oslo Plads and currently comprises 53 artists. Each spring, Den Frie Udstilling hosts its traditional group exhibition, showcasing new works from its members.

The board of Den Frie Udstilling includes Milena Bonifacini (Chair), Ebbe Stup Wittrup, Margrete Sørensen, Mikkel Carl, Yvette Brackman, and Niels Chr. Ellegaard (Legal Advisor).

Board of Directors

The board of the building of Den Frie Udstilling consists of a Chair and four members, serving four-year terms. The board members are appointed in rotation by Den Frie, the Academy Council, AICA, and BKF/UKK.

Milena Bonifacini

Chairperson, visual artist, appointed by Den Frie Udstilling

Niels Chr. Ellegaard

Lawyer, appointed by Den Frie Udstilling

Jóhan Martin Christiansen

Visual artist, appointed by the Danish Visual Artists’ Association

Peter A. Meyer

Art historian, appointed by AICA, the Association of Danish Art Critics

Camilla Nørgård

Visual artist, appointed by the Royal Danish Academy Council