Henry Heerup Museum

Stepping into Heerup’s world, you’ll quickly realize the Henry Heerup Museum isn’t your typical art gallery. This museum, nestled in Rødovre, celebrates the life and works of Henry Heerup. He was a Danish painter, sculptor, and graphic artist. Heerup’s art is a whimsical blend of personal symbols and imagery. These elements remained consistent throughout his 70-year career. His quirky figures donning elf hats and symbols like hearts and horseshoes are instantly recognizable. The Henry Heerup Museum houses a vast collection of his work. It offers a glimpse into his unique artistic vision. Heerup was a master of many mediums. He worked with everything from stone and discarded materials to paper and canvas. The museum showcases his “junk models,” where discarded items found new life as art. The Henry Heerup Museum’s collection includes pieces Heerup kept throughout his life. These works held special meaning for him. One example is his first oil painting, “The Old Oak in Wolfvalley,” from 1924. The core of the museum’s collection comes from a donation by Heerup’s widow, Marion, to the Rødovre Municipality in 1995. This gift included paintings, sculptures, graphic works, printing blocks, and over a thousand drawings, posters, books, and sketches from their Vanløse apartment. The museum also houses personal effects, giving you a peek into Heerup’s life. You’ll find his tools, music books, gifts from fellow artists, and small items he collected on his daily bike rides. The Henry Heerup Museum’s building itself has an interesting history. It’s an extension of Rødovregaard, the last remaining farm in the old village of Rødovre. This farm was owned by the same family for nearly two centuries. It offers a charming backdrop for Heerup’s distinctive art. The Henry Heerup Museum is a testament to an artist who found beauty in the ordinary. It’s a place where discarded junk becomes art and personal symbols tell a story.