Welcome to our store
Welcome to our store
ABOUT
How it all began
A story that started with my father
My father, the Danish painter Folmer Bendtsen, passed away when I was relatively young. He left behind a large collection of paintings, prints and drawings.
It wasn't until much later in life that I truly began to appreciate what he had left behind.
After years of working in a completely different field, my career took an unexpected turn, and I decided to make a living working with art. Art had always been an important part of my life, but my appreciation for it had grown stronger over the years.
Around that time, I remembered a beautiful lithographic poster by my father that had been tucked away in a drawer for years. Its authenticity and artistic quality struck me then, just as they still do today.
That poster became the starting point of my love for lithographic art. Many renowned artists created these posters for exhibitions at galleries and museums, putting just as much thought and care into their designs as they did into their other works.
Paris, in particular, played an important role in this tradition. As one of the world's leading centres of art during the 19th and 20th centuries, the city became home to a rich history of lithographic printmaking.
This is also reflected in the collection at Bendtsens, where many of the posters and prints are by French or French-inspired artists.
Frames and colours
Bringing back life to old frames
Since opening my first gallery on Gammel Kongevej in Copenhagen in 2014, I have wanted to approach framing a little differently.
I began experimenting with paints and finishes, using them to give frames their own character. I also started collecting antique frames, choosing and adapting each one to complement the colours and style of the artwork it would hold.
At the time, this was an unusual approach to framing, and it certainly sparked a few conversations.
Today, I continue to work with painted and hand-gilded frames, as well as vintage and antique frames that I give new life through painting and patination. Some artworks call for a simple wooden frame, while others suit something more decorative or traditional.
For me, framing has always been about finding the right match for each piece. I particularly enjoy giving old frames a new purpose and preserving the beautiful craftsmanship that went into making them.
Folmer Bendtsen
Photographs of my father, Folmer Bendtsen, during his youth as a painter in Bornholm in the 1930s and in Paris.
