About Olafur Eliasson

Olafur Eliasson (born 1967 in Copenhagen, Denmark) is an Icelandic-Danish contemporary artist internationally celebrated for his immersive installations, sculptures, photographs, and prints that explore perception, light, and environmental phenomena. Working at the intersection of art, science, and ecology, Eliasson creates artworks that transform viewers' sensory experiences, encouraging reflection on climate change, sustainability, and our relationship with the natural world.

Eliasson's practice is characterized by his use of natural elements—light, water, fog, and color—to create large-scale installations that blur the boundaries between art and architecture. His artworks often incorporate scientific principles and renewable energy technologies, reflecting his commitment to environmental activism and social engagement. From monumental public installations to intimate studio experiments, his practice consistently challenges how we perceive and interact with our surroundings.

Printmaking and edition-making are integral to Eliasson's practice. His limited edition prints, photographs, and signed editions translate his investigations into light, color, and geometry into highly collectible formats. These fine art prints—ranging from photographic works to geometric abstractions—capture the optical phenomena and environmental concerns central to his larger installations while making his distinctive visual language accessible to collectors worldwide.

Throughout his career, Eliasson has remained committed to using art as a catalyst for dialogue about climate action and social responsibility. His artworks continue to inspire audiences globally, securing his position as one of the most influential contemporary artists addressing urgent environmental and perceptual questions through immersive, experiential art.

Notable exhibitions

Olafur Eliasson gained international acclaim with his participation in the 2003 Venice Biennale and his landmark installation The Weather Project at Tate Modern's Turbine Hall the same year, which brought immersive, atmospheric art into mainstream visibility and attracted over two million visitors.

Major solo exhibitions followed at institutions such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (2007), Museum of Modern Art in New York (2008), and the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris (2014). In 2019, a major retrospective titled In Real Life opened at Tate Modern and later traveled to the Guggenheim Bilbao, cementing Eliasson's reputation as a leading figure in contemporary art engaging with perception, ecology, and climate.

His artworks—including his highly collectible limited edition prints, photographs, and signed editions—are held in major international collections worldwide. These exhibitions and institutional holdings affirm Eliasson's enduring influence as an artist who merges environmental activism with experiential art, creating works that challenge viewers to reconsider their relationship with nature and the built environment.