Finn Pedersen

Finn Pedersen, born in 1944 on the island of Bornholm, Denmark, was a painter and graphic artist renowned for his abstract expressionist style. He grew up in the town of Klemensker and spent most of his life in Nørrebro, where his daily experiences profoundly influenced his art.

At the age of twenty, Pedersen was introduced to abstract art. He held his first exhibition in 1965, and the following year, he participated in a group exhibition at the Court Gallery in Copenhagen alongside artists from the CoBrA movement, such as Asger Jorn and Karel Appel. These encounters marked a turning point in his career, as his work began to be shaped by the informal style of these artists.

Finn Pedersen is recognized for his unique technique, where he applies paint to the canvas with energetic gestures, using various tools such as spatulas and his fingers. He often allows the paint to flow from the tube onto the canvas in thick streams, creating a dynamic and textured surface. His color palette is characterized by light and pure hues. Pedersen avoids complex mixtures, preferring that the colors complement each other and energize one another, much like the individual notes of a melody.

Pedersen’s works are both recognizable and mysterious, revealing emotional depth and reflections on his life experiences. Over the years, he exhibited not only in Denmark but also in the United States and China.

Finn Pedersen passed away in 2014. His paintings remain a vibrant exploration of color and form, embodying the free-spirited and creative essence of the CoBrA movement.