Galleri Image is a nonprofit exhibition space for photo-based art.
It was founded in 1977 by a group of artists seeking to have the medium of photography recognized as an art form on an equal footing with painting and sculpture.
Galleri Image was the first photographic gallery in Scandinavia, and for many years the only one of its kind in Denmark.
In 1978, only a year after its foundation, Galleri Image presented an exhibition by the legendary American photographer Diane Arbus, and in 1981 the gallery exhibited work by the young Per Bak Jensen, who had just been accepted as a student to the Royal Danish Art Academy.
Throughout the years Galleri Image has shown a number of acclaimed artists including Duane Michaels, Imogen Cunningham, Christer Strömholm, Allen Ginsberg, Martin Parr, Luis Gonzalez Palma, Anthony Haughey, Carlos Garaicoa, Kyungwoo Chun, Amy Stein and Joan Fontcuberta.
From the outset Galleri Image has focused on showing different aspects of the photographic medium: from documentary to more constructed and conceptual photography. A broad range of established photographers as well as emerging artists from Denmark and elsewhere have been given the opportunity to exhibit their work at Galleri Image with several now-famous photographers having their first solo exhibition at Image.
In recent years Galleri Image has presented a number of international touring exhibitions in Europe and in China, Korea and India.
The gallery also frequently participates in international art festivals, portfolio reviews and conferences.
In 2012 Galleri Image and a number of other prominent photo-based art institutions in Northern Europe founded the Nordic Photography Network.
The network members have arranged for a festival to take place annually, first in Oulu in 2014, in Oslo in 2015 and in Stockholm in 2016. In 2017 the festival will take place in Aarhus coinciding with Aarhus being the European Capital of Culture and also with the 40th anniversary of Galleri Image.
In 2013 Galleri Image initiated a partnership with Aarhus European Capital of Culture to develop the project ‘Fresh Eyes – European Artists Rethink Aarhus’, which will result in a substantial art book and an exhibition, along with photo and video installations in public places around the city. The project will run until 2017, and during this period ten European artists will be invited to Aarhus to make their individual artistic contributions to reinterpret the city.
The project began in August 2013 when the London-based artist Tom Lovelace visited Aarhus and in December 2013, the Portuguese artist Inês d´Orey made new works for the project. The Irish artist Miriam O’Connor visited Aarhus in August 2014 to make her contribution to the project. Also the German Artist Thomas Kellner visited Aarhus in 2014 to begin his project, and he will be returning to Aarhus in 2015 to finish his project.
In 2014 Galleri Image became a member of Foreningen for Kunsthaller i Danmark. The association was established in 1992 and today it consists of 16 institutions.
Vision
Galleri Image presents between six and eight exhibitions each year. The programme includes touring and externally curated as well as self-produced exhibitions by artists from Denmark and abroad. During each exhibition the gallery hosts one or more events relating to the current exhibition. These events range from artist talks and lectures to discussions, seminars and workshops. Entry into Galleri Image is always free of charge.
Today, the principle ambition of Galleri Image is to present the art of photography, video, performance and installation and to disseminate information and ideas about these media. The gallery will continue to identify and support emerging talents, offering a stepping-stone for Danish artists to further their careers.
With a focus on diversity and fresh artistic vision, Galleri Image will continue to offer its visitors high quality experiences that lead to greater understanding.
Galleri Image now has many years of experience, achieving international recognition for its exhibitions thereby contributing significantly to the recognition of photography as an important and independent artistic medium of visual culture.
Galleri Image is supported by the Municipality of Aarhus and The Danish Arts Foundation.
