Nordjyllands Kunstmuseet (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art)
Kong Christians Allé 50
About
This building is a prime example of modern Scandinavian architecture. Built from 1968 to 1972, it was designed by Elissa and Alvar Aalto and Jean-Jacques Baruël as a showplace for 20th-century Danish and international art. The nucleus of the collection dates from 1850 but it's been added to over the years with many purchases and bequests. The Carlsberg Foundation, those beer barons, have donated some of the most notable works, including William Scharff's Nocturne Series and J. F. Willumsen's War Invalids. We find that the museum's most romantic picture is Harald Slott-Møller's Spring (1901). The greatest treasure-trove of art came from two dental technologists, Anna and Kresten Krestensen, who amassed a notable collection of Danish and international art from 1920 to 1950. In later years, as funds became available, the museum purchased works by great international artists including Fernand Léger, Max Ernst, and Wassily Kandinsky. Many events are staged for children, including picture hunts, family tours, and children's museum exhibits. On the ground floor is a good cafe overlooking the sculpture park. In 1994, artist Paul Gernes decorated the walls of the cafe, which serves a light lunch menu and open-faced sandwiches. Ask about musical concerts frequently staged here all year.
