Esben Weile Kjær (b. 1992, Copenhagen) graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 2022, having previously completed his studies in Music Management at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory, Copenhagen. Interested in identity politics in the age of constantly evolving new media, his performance, installation, and stained-glass work examines his generation’s construction of selfhood and the rise of popular culture and technology in determining one’s experience of community and authenticity. Though the artist lives in Denmark, his practice is heavily informed by the notion of “The American Dream.” His curiosity is sparked by theme parks, toys-as-branding, and the complete consumerist meltdown in the West. 

 

Kjær has performed at MUMOK, Vienna (2023); the Centre Pompidou, Paris (2022); the Tinguely Museum, Basel (2022); the National Gallery of Denmark (2019); and the New Carlsberg Foundation, Copenhagen (2022). Solo exhibitions have been held at Museum of Contemporary Art, Roskilde (2020); Copenhagen Contemporary (2020); and Kunstforening GL Strand, Copenhagen (2020). In 2023, Kjær was invited to curate the ARKEN Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection, and to perform BUTTERFLY! Following his exhibition with Albion Jeune, Kjær is preparing for exhibitions at the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg, in 2024, Salzburg Kunstverein, in 2025, and Rudolph Tegners Museum, Dronningmølle, in 2025. Kjær was awarded the Carl Nielsen & Anne Marie Carl-Nielsens Foundation Talent Award. His work is in the permanent collection of ARKEN Museum of Modern Art, Denmark; Malmö Art Museum, Sweden; and Brandts Museum, Denmark.