Steen Ipsen has been named the recipient of the Appreciation Award from the Danish National Bank’s Anniversary Foundation. The honor is awarded to individuals who have shown exceptional dedication and made lasting contributions to Danish craft and design. The award is granted annually, by nomination only.
In its commendation, the Foundation highlights Ipsen’s mastery, consistency, and influence:
“Drawing on a constrained range of artistic effects, Steen Ipsen creates complex sculptures in monochrome glazed ceramic. Throughout his career, he has consistently pursued the in-depth exploration of a variety of themes, with geometric shapes as a key focus. Ornament is always present in Steen Ipsen’s sculptures in the form of the components that constitute the whole. The continual simplification of these individual elements has resulted in a minimalist expression requiring perfection in execution, which he masters with almost superhuman proficiency. The underlying constraint stands in contrast to the intuitive composition, and the bright, clear glaze colours add a free and easy, engaging energy. Concurrent with his own artistic practice, Steen Ipsen was head of the Department of Glass and Ceramics at the Danish Design School [now the Royal Danish Academy – Design] for a number of years and is a co-founder of the exhibition platform Copenhagen Ceramics. Steen Ipsen has built an international career and exhibits throughout most of the world.”