Svend Engelund 1908-2007

Svend Arne Engelund was born in Vrå, Denmark on 4th April 1908. He was a Danish landscape painter best known for painting the landscapes around his hometown of Vendsyssel.

Engelund was the co-founder (in 1942) of the Vrå Exhibition (Vrå-udstillingen), which today houses the Engelund Collection (Engelundsamlingen) - The largest permanent display of Engelund's (1929 to 1997) works.

He was also a member (from 1939) of the Danish Artist Association (Kunstnersammenslutningen Kammeraterne). Founded in 1934, the association held its first exhibition at The Free Exhibition (Den Frie Udstillings) building in Copenhagen in 1935. The association continues to hold an annual juried Autumn Art Exhibition (Kunstnernes Efterårsudstilling).

Engelund attended the Royal Academy of Arts (Kunstakademiet) in Copenhagen (1931-35), where he studied under the Danish painters Sigurd Wandel (1875-1947) and Kræsten Iverson (1886-1955). While a student, he travelled widely around europe - Spain and England (1932), Greece, Holland, Norway and Sweden. He was awarded the Eckersberg Medal (Eckersberg Medaljen) - an annual award from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts - in 1962.

Engelund exhibited extensively throughout his life - Notable exhibitions include the Autumn Art Exhibition (Kunstnernes Efterårsudstilling), Copenhagen (1938-40 / 1943 / 1945-53); Vrå Exhibition (1942-71 / 1973-93); Randers Kunstforen (1952) with Frede Christoffersen and Dan Sterup Hansen; 'Nordic Kunst' (Nordic Art), Bergen and Oslo (1953); Dänische Gegenwartskunst, Basel (1955), Iceland (1956), 'Modern Danish Painting and Sculpture', The Glasgow Museums and Art Galleries, Glasgow (1956), Kunsthal Charlottenburg, Copenhagen (1957), Århus Kunstgal (1960), Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm (1961), Hjørring Kunstmuseum (1963-64 / 1978), 'Baltic Sea' Rostock, Germany (1967), '100 Graphics', Kunsthal Charlottenburg, Copenhagen (1971); Gothenburg (1975); Galerie Moderne, Silkeborg (1978); '14 Danish Artists', Galerie Moderne, Silkeborg (1979), 'Artists for Peace', Kunsthal Charlottenburg, Copenhagen (1983); The Jutland Art Council (Det jyske Kunstakad), Århus (1984).

Engelund died in Mårslet, Denmark on 25th October 2007 aged 99.

Svend Engelund