Vilhelm Bjerke Petersen

Biography - CV

1909       
He was born in Copenhagen. Parents: The art historian Carl V Petersen and Anna Bjerke.

1926-29  
Studied at Harald Giersing’s Art school in Copenhagen and at The National Art Academy in Oslo with Professor Axel Revold. In Oslo he received education in drawing by Henrik Sörensen and Alf Rolfsen. He traveled to Paris.

1930-31  
Studied at Bauhaus, Dessau with amongst others Kandinsky and Klee. Studied psychology with Professor Dürchheim. He painted his first abstract pictures.

1933       
Released his by now famous book “Symboler in abstract artt”, in Copenhagen.

1934       
He was the initiator of the group and the periodical “Linien”. In January their first exhibition. Started to become interested in André Breton’s ideas.
  
1935       
Arranged together with Erik Olson, the exhibition “Kubisme-Surrealisme” in Copenhagen. Released the periodical “Konkretion”. Married Elsa Thoresen. Travelled to Paris, Brussels and Antwerp.

1936       
Participated in the large international surrealist exhibition in London.

1937-38  
Lived in Paris, October to March.

1938       
Participated in the international surrealist exhibition in Paris.

1938-42  
Painted a large amount of suggestions for decorations of various buildings, in Copenhagen.

1944       
Escaped the Nazi occupied Denmark and fled with his family to Sweden.

1946-47  
Went to New York. Received a scholarship from the Guggenheim Foundation. Returned in the summer of 1947 to Copenhagen, and went directly up to Stockholm.

1949       
Founded  the Modern Art School in Stockholm. Created a large decoration for Kooperativa Förbundets jubilee exhibition, at Skansen, in Stockholm.

1953       
Got married to Eva-Lisa Lennartsson, in Stockholm. Decorated the city library, in Halmstad.

1954       
He travelled to Paris. Executed sketches for Rörstrands Porcelain factory.

1955       
The Modern Art School in Stockholm is brought together with the educational courses, at the university of Stockholm. Decorated a sports center, in Halmstad.

1956       
Wrote the book “Konkret konst”, with the publishing firm Rabén & Sjögren in Stockholm.

1957       
Died on the 13th of September at the hospital in Halmstad.

Exhibition at Galerie Bel'Art: 1981 and 1984

Retrospective exhibitions:
1986
Silkeborg Kunstmuseum, Sophienholm, Fyns Kunstmuseum, Esbjerg Kunstforening

2006
Silkeborg Kunstmuseum

Museums:
Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Skissernas Museum, Lund, Sweden.
Silkeborg Kunstmuseum, Denmark.
Borås museum, Sweden.
Gävle museum, Sweden.
Örebro museum, Sweden.
Norrköpings museum, Sweden.
Louisiana Museum, Denmark
Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen
Sönderjylland Kunstmuseum, Tønder, Denmark
Skive Kunstmuseum, Denmark
Storstrøms Kunstmuseum, Denmark
Esbjerg Kunstmuseum, Denmark
Aros Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Denmark
Randers Kunstmuseum, Denmark
Fyns Kunstmuseum, Odense, Denmark
CANICA collection, Norway
AKO Kunststiftelse, Norway