The Artistic Journey of Else Alfelt
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Else Alfelt was a self-taught painter who began capturing the likeness of staff and children at an orphanage around the age of twelve. After attending the Technical School in Copenhagen, she was famously turned down by the Art Academy on the grounds that she already possessed the necessary painting skills. Her career saw a significant shift from her early naturalistic portraits, which were exhibited at the Autumn Salon of Danish artists starting in 1936, toward a completely abstract idiom. This later style was characterized by colorful prismatic compositions that were both meditative and abstract.
Alfelt was a prominent figure in the Danish avant-garde, participating in the artists' collective Linien and the group Helhesten during the German occupation of Denmark. She was also a member of the COBRA movement, serving as one of its only two female members. Her work often explored motifs such as spheres, mountains, and spirals, which she linked to expressions of "inner space."
Themes and Legacy
Inspired by her travels to Lapland and Japan, Alfelt’s work reflected the landscapes she encountered. Her time in Japan led to the creation of 100 meditative paintings on paper, titled “Flower of the Universe,” which incorporated elements of Zen Buddhism. In addition to her paintings, she produced several mosaics. Her legacy is preserved through the Carl Henning Pedersen og Else Alfelts Museum, and her name is honored in Copenhagen through Else Alfelt Vej.
