1996
A Fresh Start
Tired of being kicked around by different landlords, the small company invests in new locations. An extensive renovation is needed and everyone gives both hearts and hands into the project. The new workshop creates space for longer teaching courses with young students together with intensive short courses for professionals. Here Birgit Østergaard gets space to create her later large art exhibitions as well as decorative assignments.
1996
We have the Pleasure to….
Birgit Østergaard wins her first art Project in a prequalification round, arranged by Aarhus County Municipality’s art committee. Decorating a stairway area in department Y at Skejby University Hospital, DK. One 24m2 woven art piece together with a smaller with light, placed on a curved wall.
1998
Travelling is Another Way of Living
From 1998 onwards, Birgit Østergaard travels a lot. She follows the traveling exhibition Sky & Krystal around the Nordic countries alongside a long working stay in Mexico. The encounter with small Natives American tribes and their production of amate paper by methods with roots back to the codex books gained importance for the forward-looking artistic expression. Back home in the workshop the new impressions are transformed into design lamps and art.
2002
Finally Hole to the Sky
In the following years the small company grows. Birgit Østergaard receives several scholarships and support for a large travelling exhibition called SKY & Crystal to be shown in the Nordic countries.
2002
Lucky lady
During the installation of a decoration task in Copenhagen Birgit Østergaard slips into a piece of sail cloth, laying on the floor. It was beautiful, strong with a fine opacity – perfect for a lamp. Another adventure takes its beginning with Birgit designing her first commercial product and in 2002 a new brand is born, presented under her own name.
2004
Commissioned Corporate Art
In collaboration with SHL Architects, Aarhus, DK.
2004
Salt Lake, USA
Road trip and dreams of placing our Little Iceberg B2 on the empty ice-like surface in scorching heat.
2006
Maison & Objet, Paris
Birgit Østergaard introduces the brand to International buyers.
2006
Commissioned Public Art
Birgit Østergaard is awarded a public art project with decoration of the ceiling in a new regional council chamber in Viborg, DK. The work is carried out in collaboration with the architectural firm SHL, Aarhus,dk.
Work in Progress
2009
Destress Teaches Naked Woman to Spin
Storytelling is about what actually happened. In 2008, when the economic crisis broke out, hopes and dreams fell apart; Action was needed. The workshop was locked down and the small company moves into a large historic building in the heart of Aarhus, DK. The apartment provided space for both business and a beautiful private home. The critical situation turned out to be the ideal solution for a working bee like Birgit Østergaard.
Welcome to Our New Studio
We made a complete renovation of the flat and a new era could begin. Birgit Østergaard lamps, produced by Birgit in her studio, are sold directly to customers. Both Birgit Østergaard lamp designs, art and news are visible on the platform. New ideas for artistic challenges are constantly in the oven and new designs pops up and are presented in the shop. We run everything ourselves from the development phase to documentation, updating and development of the site design and structure.
2012
International Art Competition, Venice
The sculpture Warriors is shortlisted for the International competition Arte Laguna Prize. We were invited and took part in the celebration.
2012
Open Call for Public Art Project, Surrey, Canada
The luminous sculpture The Surrey Swimmer in polished aluminum is our proposal in a competition for a public art project to Guildford Aquatic Centre, Canada.
2014
Experiments
We continue to experiment with various materials. Here fiber optics embroidered on hand-woven copper.
2016
Experiments
New chandelier or floor lamp? Experiments with handwoven textile in combination with fiber optics.
2017
Piedra de la Sangre
Wall hung sculpture made of handmade paper. Inspired by a stone on the Normandy coast at low tide.
2017
International Light Art Competition, Florida, USA
The luminous wall sculpture Dead Ice Hole is announced as best in show at the International competition, Ligthheaded, Florida Craft Art Gallery.
2020
Development of a New Design
Materials, size, production time studies, calculations, photography and – as the last step – presentation on our platform before a new product is ready for departure. For a long time, the whole workshop is cluttered. All our attention is on this one thing – making it work, both in terms of design and lighting effect.
Soon Coming
Wishbone or Just a Stick?
