On 26 September we open the doors to the special exhibition Ovartaci ≠ Isolotto as part of the celebration of the 130th celebration of Ovartaci’s birth.

Ovartaci created remarkable works of art, but he also created a life through his art such as works, anecdotes and now this special exhibition Ovartaci ≠ Isolotto.

Curated by the Danish artist Uffe Isolotto the exhibition shows until now overlooked, unknown and atypical works by Ovartaci.                 

In 2022 Isolotto and Ovartaci’s paths crossed for the first time, when 26 works by Ovartaci were presented at the Venice Biennale, where Isolotto was responsible for the Danish Pavilion. By letting Isolotto work with the curatorial approach and incorporating own works in the staging, a new degree of originality is ensured – as well as a young contemporary art approach.

The selected works from the collection are atypical – the motifs are not what you immediately associate with Ovartaci. These are motifs such as flower bouquets, portraits and architectural paintings

The works show Ovartaci's technical skill and show that in his life as a patient for 56 years out of need, kindness, interest or to challenge himself, he threw himself into the more naturalistic painting.

The exhibition is open from  27.th September to  9.th February 2025.

From 7 October to 10 November, Maltfabrikken forms the setting for a very special pop-up exhibition with works by Ovartaci. The exhibition can be experienced independently or as a supplement to the upcoming special exhibition Ovartaci ≠ Isolotto, which can be experienced at the museum from 27 September.

At Museum Ovartaci we are looking forward to showing Ovartaci's art "at home" in the fantastic, raw setting provided by Maltfabrikken.

Museum Ovartaci and Theater HURRA present the performance 'The sound of one hell of a dreamer’ - A performance about Ovartaci'. The performance premieres on 2 October at 20:00 and can be experienced in the exhibition at Museum Ovartaci on 3 and 4 October at 17:00 and 20:00 and on 5 October at 13:00 and 15:00. Tickets can be purchased from 20 September via a link here.

In collaboration with the musician Lise Dres, Theater HURRA pays tribute to the artist Ovartaci.

Through the staging of Ovartaci's poetry and Teater HURRA's own texts, we invite the audience to discover his life, mind and universe.

The performance is a celebration of one hell of a dreamer in connection with the 130th anniversary of Ovartaci's birth.

In close collaboration Museum Ovartaci presents with Syddjurs Egnsteater and theater Hakkehuset, Silkeborg the performance ‘The Mind is a Butterfly’.

The performance opens the door to a world of poetry and transformation. We meet Ovartaci in a hospital room. Through the performance, the clinically clean space is transformed with colorful creations and live music. Ovartaci is reborn as a girl, soldier and butterfly.

This poetic tale explores not only dreams and the limits of reality, but also topics such as mental resilience and identity. "The Mind is a Butterfly" is a journey into the deepest layers of the soul.

In addition to performances at Syddjurs Egnsteater in Rønde, Kombi in Hornslet and Fregatten Jylland in Ebeltoft, the performance can be experienced in the beautiful ‘Festsal’ in the main building in Bindesbøll Byen in Risskov, where the Psychiatric Hospital once was.

To buy a ticket:

15 October at 19.00 Tickets

16 October at 19.00 Tickets

Please notice that the performance is not suitable for children under 10 years of age.

The performance is supported by:

Spar Nord Fonden, Syddjurs Kommune, Augustinus Fonden, Silkeborg Kommune, Den Jyske Kunstfond og Region Midtjylland.

Want to know more about who Ovartaci was, why he was a patient at the Psychiatric Hospital in Risskov and what his life was like through the 56 years he was a patient at the hospital?  Now you have the chance to participate in one of our open tours.

During the tour your guide takes you through an exciting journey in the museum’s main exhibition. Here you will be introduced to the history of the Psychiatric Hospital in Risskov and the human and artist behind Ovartaci. After the one-hour guided tour you are invited to immerse yourself further into the stories, objects, and artworks on your own

There are 25 tickets for each tour being sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Price: 75 DKK to join the tour and 95 DKK to gain entrance to the museum.

To buy a ticket

Ovartaci made an impression. Many years after his death, people who met him still talk about him. Some tell how he cycled around Risskov. Others tell of his visits to the local shops or of small, amusing episodes. Some have known Ovartaci more thoroughly and can tell of years of friendship.

In collaboration with researcher Brian Benjamin Hansen from VIA University College, Museum Ovartaci is launching a project collecting stories about Ovartaci.

You can join the project which is easy to participate. You can write your story via the museum's website under "Share your story". The stories are saved in an archive so that they can be preserved for the future. The archive is online, so everyone can read along, while more stories keep ticking in.

We very much hope that people who have known Ovartaci want to participate! If you know someone who knows someone who has known Ovartaci, please spread the word about the project.

Our museum shop is full of exciting and brand-new items, perfect for cozying up - both together with others or simply for a nice, quiet time alone.

Explore the many options for DIY activities. Whether it's linoleum printing or crocheting you dream of trying, you'll find ready-made DIY kits to get you started.

The time of year is also ideal for fun and games with friends, family or children. Throw yourself into an exciting escape game where you have to solve the mystery at "The Mysterious Museum” or challenge each other in 4-in-a-row or Jenga.

In August, the museum participated in the Swedish cultural festival "Luftslottet 2024" - organized by the artist Jonas Liveröd - in Götene/Västergötland. At the festival, the museum's employee Georg gave a lecture about Ovartaci's life and the museum in front of a very interested Swedish audience.

The museum's participation in the cultural festival is part of the museum's strategy to establish a Nordic network between similar institutions in the field of "art and mental health". The participation is in line with the museum's upcoming collaboration with Malmö Kunsthal from December 2024 and Ovartaci's current participation in the exhibition "A midsummer mystery" in the European Capital of Culture 2024 Bodø in Norway.

Jonas Liveröd researches the connection between art and psychiatry and is working to establish the international art archive "Otherwordly", which he thinks fits better as a term than "Outsider art".

The sardine can with flying sardines has landed at the museum.

During Aarhus Festuge, the imagination blossomed in the Slaraffenland tent in Byparken. In a collaboration between ‘Det Finurlige Flyselskab’, Aarhus Festuge and Museum Ovartaci, a lot of creative children, families participated in open workshops, where small imaginative flying sardines were created from recycled materials. The imaginative fish eventually became part of a large joint work - "FREE", which is now on display in the square in front of the museum. The work can be seen as a celebration of freedom, imagination and community.

As a start of the nationwide cultural event for young people K7 Week, Museum Ovartaci's youth council invited to ‘Open Forum – Beyond Diagnosis’ on Tuesday 3 September. Here the artists Frida Ottsen and Tex Jensen opened the dialogue by telling how they both use and work with art in a challenged youth life with diagnoses and psychological vulnerability. The presentation opened for a talk where the participants offered interesting and personal considerations.

K7 Week is a nationwide youth culture week where more than 200 museums and exhibition venues offer free entry for young people under the age of 27 for one week. At Museum Ovartaci, we think that one week is not enough so that is why we provide free access for young people until 17 May 2025.

On 3 September, Friends of Ovartaci held their annual general meeting. The association of friends has grown steadily since the reopening of the new museum and is an important asset in securing the museum in the future.

At the general meeting, it was decided, among other things, to maintain the price of a membership at the same price.

Two board members wanted to leave the board, and two new representatives were elected. The new board now consists of: Elsebeth Aasted Schwarz (chairman), Leif Bech (treasurer), Hanne Teglhus, Inge Voldsgaard, Carsten Gjørtz, Mia Skov and Lise Kabel. The following were elected to the alternate posts: Niels Erik Andersen and Hans Schou.

Members of Friends of Museum Ovartaci help ensure the continued existence of the museum and help make a difference by eliminating prejudices and create an understanding of mental illness through art and history of art.

In other words: Museum Ovartaci needs you!

As a member of Friends of Museum Ovartaci you get special benefits. You will be invited to events, openings, pre-views, special friend-events and a discount to selected events. Furthermore, a membership in Museum Ovartaci’s Friends grants free admission to the museum. Membership price 225 DKK per year.
Sign up and become a part of Museum Ovartaci’s Friends by following the link below.