Visual artist Bjørn Brøndsted Follow.Art Card

About me

My artistic practice is an exploration of belonging. Born from a childhood of feeling "outside" and not belonging, my work serves as a visual bridge back to the self, nature, and the universe. I paint to remind the viewer—and myself—that we are inherently enough.

Growing up in the counterculture of Christiania, Denmark, I was raised by a lineage of strong women who nevertheless never felt at ease in the cultural norms of society. This upbringing forged my identity as a feminist and as a seeker of spiritual truth. My paintings are born in that reality, which is why many of my paintings celebrate mythic female figures that embody both the vulnerability and the sovereignty of the soul.

My technical process is a dance of contradictions. As a colorblind artist, I choose my color palette through a blend of meticulous color theory and a deeply personal "color truth." I work from an idea or a vision that only becomes truly clear once upon the canvas. I have to paint it to know if it is right. My paintings can undergo many changes on the canvas before they finally reveal themselves to me. I consider myself a conduit, trying to give myself to the process while getting out of the way of the creative and often spiritual truth that seeks to express itself; I am the first witness of the finished work as much as I am its creator.

Initially I might use different mediums - inks and markers, spray paint and crayons, even collage - but as the work takes shape I always switch to complete the piece exclusively in oils. Overall my process goes from spontaneous and chaotic to controlled and refined through many layers.

When standing before my works, I want the viewer to feel a sense of awe — both for the spiritual truth of the mystery of life, of the connectedness between us and nature, and for the resonance with their own divinity and belonging within that mystery.