Copenhagen Pieces II: The Council For Visual Art 2022-2025

Explore the extensive collection of artworks acquired by the Council for Visual Art – on behalf of the City of Copenhagen – during the period 2022–2025. On view from 6 February to 6 April, the exhibition presents more than 230 works by nearly 150 different artists, shown side by side throughout Nikolaj Kunsthal and spanning every floor of the building. Join the opening party 5 February. 

In everyday life, these works can be encountered in public institutions and workplaces, where they provide artistic experiences for citizens and employees outside museums, art centres, and galleries. The collection, which institutions within the City of Copenhagen may borrow free of charge, can be found in places such as libraries, substance-abuse treatment centres, job centres, schools, and mayoral offices – enriching the daily lives of staff, users, and visitors alike. Photographs in the exhibition show the works in their day-to-day settings, illustrating how they interact with their surroundings. Statements from borrowers offer insights into how art is experienced in these contexts. 

The quality and diversity of the acquisitions are ensured by the Council for Visual Art, a committee composed of five art-professional experts and three politicians. They purchase new works directly from artists’ studios, galleries, art fairs, and exhibition venues. In addition, the Council supports artistic projects and serves as an advisory body on visual art to the City of Copenhagen. In 2025, the Council also contributed to a new strategy for art in Copenhagen’s public realm. 

The exhibition Copenhagen Pieces II has been realised with support from the City of Copenhagen, the Danish Arts Foundation, and the Augustinus Foundation.