MAJA MALOU LYSE

Lyse graduated with a Master of Fine Arts from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 2022, and is known for focusing on digital art. Her work frequently employs humour, irony, and elements of pop culture to challenge traditional power structures and question normative views on gender roles.

Artistic Practice

Lyse’s artistic approach is characterised by its direct engagement with feminist theory and sexual politics. She often works with film or photography, positioning herself in front of, behind, and next to the camera, highlighting complex issues of representation and power within visual content. Her work opens a broader conversation about the impact of imagery on our behavior and self-perception in today’s digital age. Lyse has explored various mediums, including video performances and installations, often using her body as a channel for her art to challenge societal norms around sexuality and pleasure.

Seminal Artworks

One of Lyse’s most notable exhibitions is MM, held in 2024 at O—Overgaden, Copenhagen. This exhibition centered around Marilyn Monroe’s iconic Playboy centerfold from 1953, exploring themes of objectification, consent, and the commodification of female bodies. Lyse acquired Hugh Hefner’s privately owned original of the Monroe nude, which she displayed alongside a film documenting her pursuit of the photograph. This work questions who owns an image and how identities are constructed and sexualised in media. Another significant project is BOMBSHELL, BOOM!, where Lyse examined the Ekstra Bladet‘s Page 9 Girl archive, reflecting on the power of media archives in shaping our collective understanding of sexuality and gender.

Exhibitions and Projects

Maja Malou Lyse has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions at prestigious venues such as Overgaden (Copenhagen), Brandts Kunst Museum (Odense), ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, Kunsthal Charlottenborg (Copenhagen), Tate Modern (London), and Moderna Museet (Stockholm). Her recent exhibition, BOMBSHELL, BOOM!, at JP/Politikens Hus, reflects on the power of media archives in shaping our collective understanding of the past, focusing on the Ekstra Bladet‘s Page 9 Girl archive.

Awards and Recognition

In 2023, Lyse received the Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen Talent Prize, recognising her contributions to the contemporary art scene. In 2025, Lyse was announced to represent Denmark at the Venice Biennale.

Representation and Social Media

Lyse is represented by Galleri Nicolai Wallner, and her work can also be found on her Instagram account.

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Ocula | 2025