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Overview

Kunsten Museum of Modern Art Aalborg is a living art museum allowing space for immersion, wonder and fascination.

The museum building, completed in 1972, is an attraction in its own right. Designed by the world-famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, assisted by Elissa Aalto and Jean-Jacques Baruël, it is the only museum building outside Finland designed by Aalto. The museum is built of striking white marble, a style that is continued inside with stunning marble flooring and copper lamps, also designed by Aalto.


The museum houses a unique collection comprising over 4000 works of art, mostly post-1900, by Danish and foreign artists. The exhibition area consists of five galleries providing visitors with ample opportunity to experience the permanent collection as well as a number of special exhibitions.

Kunsten also hosts a variety of events including lectures, film screenings, concerts, family workshops, guided tours, and other activities suitable for all age groups.

At Brasserie Kunsten, you can enjoy coffee, cake and culinary art when you need a break – and in Kunsten Shop, you will find handpicked design and crafts as well as books on art and architecture.

Following a period of refurbishment, the museum reopened its doors in January 2016. The renovation work has been carried out with the utmost respect for the original structure, which is a listed building. The result is a new and improved version of the old building. 

The extensive restoration work has provided the museum with a brand new exhibition gallery, new teaching rooms, new café & shop facilities, a fully refurbished sculpture park featuring a large new terrace and, not forgetting, the replacement of 317 tons of Italian marble both inside and outside the building.

The Building
Image
Foto af Rasmus Hjortshøj

Foto: Rasmus Hjortshøj

The Building

The Museum building on Kong Christians Allé in Aalborg was completed in 1972. It was designed by the world famous Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto and Elissa Aalto and Jean-Jacques Baruël, and it is the only Museum building outside Finland that Aalto designed.

The Board

Christen Obel

Chairman of the Board
Appointed by The Utzon Foundation

John Lundsgaard

Vice Chairman of the Board
Appointed by Erhverv Norddanmark

Daniel Borup

Appointed by the Aalborg City Council

Christina Halkjær

Appointed by the Aalborg City Council

Camilla Fogh

Employee representative

Lars Munch

Appointed by the board of Kunsten

The History of the Museum
Image
Foto af Alvar Aalto

Aalborg Museum of Art dates all the way back to the 1870s, but over the years it underwent a huge change, as is evident in the Museum’s change of names, the architectural setting and the nature of the art collection.

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See also

Whistleblower scheme

Annual report

Statutes

Vision

Sustainability