Den Frie Udstillingsbygning

Opening next week, we are pleased to present Senga Nengudi’s first solo exhibition in Denmark and the Nordic region, ‘Sand and Water’. A central figure in recent American art history, Nengudi has over five decades developed a practice spanning sculpture, performance, dance, and poetry. The exhibition centres around a new site-specific installation unfolding as an abstract fragmented landscape and pulsating visual field, alongside a series of iconic water sculptures from the 1970s made of pigmented water temporarily enclosed in transparent plastic volumes. ‘Sand and Water’ will be the seventh exhibition in our OSLO-program presenting commissioned solo projects made specifically for the sub-level gallery at Den Frie. We hope to see you for the opening. Opening: Thursday, 21.05.26, 17–19 Happy hour prices at @pegasus.cph throughout the evening. Exhibition period: 22.05.26 – 13.09.26 Photo: Senga Nengudi, Water Composition, 1967-70/2019. © Senga Nengudi. Photo by: Thomas Barrat.

“Vienna–Copenhagen” Den Frie Udstilling 2026 is currently on view through 7 June 2026. This year, 45 members of the artists’ association Den Frie Udstilling have invited 125 colleagues from the sister institution, Wiener Secession, to participate as guest exhibitors in their annual exhibition. “Vienna–Copenhagen” Den Frie Udstilling 2026 is organised by Kristoffer Akselbo and Henrik Plenge Jakobsen from Den Frie Udstilling, and Sofie Thorsen, Michael Part and Jun Yang from Wiener Secession, assisted by Clemens Battisti. Photos by @mallegilbert

✨Looking back at an absolutely phenomenal last week of the Toaster Performance Biennale✨ Swipe for highlights from week three —> 📹All captured by: @christian_brems @mesayer @colette.sadler @jonas_kjeldgaard_soerensen @kristofferakselbo @kleemannjessie @logenstageart @woundedgutfeeling @mollyhaslund @joseftarrak Supported by @statenskunstfond @augustinusfonden @detobelskefamiliefond and @thoravej29

Last week, we opened Vienna–Copenhagen, with Den Frie Udstilling inviting its sister institution, Wiener Secession, to participate as guest exhibitors. Like Den Frie, the Wiener Secession was founded in the 1890s, and the two institutions remain among the few exhibition venues in Europe still housed and run by artists. Thank you to everyone who joined us from near and far to celebrate this spirited collegial exchange and the gathering of 170 artists across Den Frie’s exhibition halls. “Vienna-Copenhagen” Den Frie Udstilling 2026 is on view till 07.06.26. Photos by @wartinmendelbo

From tomorrow, our floral designer friends Studio Sobra will bring fresh flowers to Den Frie every Friday. Find them under our blooming cherry tree and pick up a bouquet on your way into the weekend. Photos by @emilreedtz

⚡️A vibrant second week at the Toaster Performance Biennale!⚡️ Swipe for highlights from week two —> 📹All captured by: @christian_brems Except Rimini Protokoll captured by: @mikkelhefto Still lots of performances to come this week at @husetsteater @lilith_artist_duo @juliennedoko @p.d.gile @kleemannjessie @moribundperformance @sarahamming @team_tender @madamdedangelaim @rimini_protokoll Supported by @statenskunstfond @augustinusfonden @detobelskefamiliefond and @thoravej29

Talk with Vanessa Joan Müller on Saturday, 02.05.26, 14.00–15.30. Artist-run since 1897. On the occasion of the exhibition “Vienna–Copenhagen”, Den Frie Udstilling invites for the talk “Artist-run since 1897” with Vienna-based German art historian, curator, and writer Vanessa Joan Müller. “Vienna-Copenhagen” Den Frie Udstilling 2026 brings together 45 artists from Den Frie Udstilling in dialogue with 125 Austrian colleagues from Wiener Secession in an energetic display that highlights the potential of collective formats and collegial exchange. Like Den Frie, Wiener Secession was founded in the 1890s, and the two institutions remain among the few exhibition venues in Europe still housed and run by artists. As is the case of Den Frie Udstilling, Wiener Secession also counts some of the country’s most prominent artists among its members. “Vienna–Copenhagen” Den Frie Udstilling 2026 is organised by Kristoffer Akselbo and Henrik Plenge Jakobsen from Den Frie Udstilling, and Sofie Thorsen, Michael Part and Jun Yang from Wiener Secession, assisted by Clemens Battisti. The exhibition is generously supported by Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport Republic of Austria, Bildrecht, Østrig; Statens Kunstfond; Augustinus Fonden; Dansk Tennis Fond.

Final week to step inside ‘The Speaker’s Room’ by Eliyah Mesayer. In The Speaker’s Room, Eliyah Mesayer brings her imaginary state Illiyeen to Den Frie in a shadow version of a state office, displacing the architecture of power from the political to the poetic. Here, familiar symbols of authority dissolve through subtle shifts, leaving behind an abandoned room in which another form of national narrative emerges: one not held together by shared identity, national boundaries, or authoritative symbols, but by collective and dreamlike imaginaries of community. ‘The Speaker’s Room’ runs till 03.05.26 and is the sixth exhibition in our OSLO-program presenting commissioned solo projects made specifically for the sub-level gallery at Den Frie. Free entrance through pur café @pegasus.cph Production & artistic development by Joakim Wei Bernild (@juju.bluut ) Photos by Malle Madsen

🍀Amazing opening week at the Toaster Performance Biennale!🍀 Swipe for highlights from week one —> 📹Captured by: @christian_brems Still lots of performances to come until 3 May 2026 across @denfrie.cph and @husetsteater @esbenweile @kristofferakselbo @edatkinsdiet #linamajdalanie #rabihmroue #bobkil @cam.onfire @kimkimyes @rebamaybury @kariszidore @emilie.gregersen Supported by @statenskunstfond @augustinusfonden @detobelskefamiliefond and @thoravej29

Hardcore Freedom by Esben Weile Kjær last week at Den Frie for the Grand Opening of Toaster Performance Biennale 2026. Photos by @thecobrasnake – see more on vogue.com Performed by: Svend Brandt, Julius Ambrosius, Clara kaas, Sofie Ryssel, Siggy Sonne, Marie Gjedde, Tobias Juul, Charlie Møller, Sigurd Juul, Julie Stueven, Sophie Ayaa, William Kopp, Annacelia Zulueta, Rio Daphne, Victor Friedrich Bachmann, Vinnie Gotfredsen, Courtesy, Europa, The Cobrasnake, Anna Frost, Freja Wewer and Esben Weile Kjær.

Opening next week: “Vienna–Copenhagen” Den Frie Udstilling 2026 This year, the artists’ association Den Frie Udstilling have invited their colleagues from the sister institution, Wiener Secession, to participate as guest exhibitors in their annual exhibition. Like Den Frie, the Vienna Secession was founded in the 1890s, and the two institutions remain among the few exhibition venues in Europe still housed and run by artists. As is the case of Den Frie Udstilling, Wiener Secession also counts some of the country’s most prominent artists among its members. The exhibition brings together 45 artists from Den Frie Udstilling in dialogue with 125 Austrian colleagues from Wiener Secession in an energetic display that highlights the potential of collective formats and collegial exchange. “Vienna–Copenhagen” Den Frie Udstilling 2026 is organised by Kristoffer Akselbo and Henrik Plenge Jakobsen from Den Frie Udstilling, and Sofie Thorsen, Michael Part and Jun Yang from Wiener Secession, assisted by Clemens Battisti. The exhibition is generously supported by Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport Republic of Austria, Bildrecht, Østrig; Statens Kunstfond; Augustinus Fonden; Dansk Tennis Fond.

Hardcore Freedom at Den Frie Udstillingsbygning Performed by: Svend Brandt, Julius Ambrosius, Clara kaas, Sofie Ryssel, Siggy Sonne, Marie Gjedde, Tobias Juul, Charlie Møller, Sigurd Juul, Julie Stueven, Sophie Ayaa, William Kopp, Annacelia Zulueta, Rio Daphne, Victor Friedrich Bachmann, Vinnie Gotfredsen, Courtesy, Europa, The Cobrasnake, Anna Frost, Freja Wewer and Esben Weile Kjær. Filmed by: Snorre Sverreson Skarveland Petlund Music: W. F. Bach: Concerto nr. 1 i D-dur (Andante)