Maria Viftrup (1993) is a visual artists/speculative designer as well as a dust collector, soil-sensor and residue caretaker. With radically curious eyes and sensitive fingertips she collects dust and debris from naturecultural systems and makes installations, public engagements, assemblages and drawings. Her work deals with ecology, waste and value by hyper-caring for material residue.
She is working in the messy intersections of participatory art, experimental design and practice-based research.
Based in Børkop, Denmark she is crafting radical curiousity through engaging experiences and material storytelling. Her work takes form as material-driven explorations of the implications of contemporary production and consumption systems.
Maria's artistic practice consists of co-creative installations, happenings, assemblage, material explorations, drawing or photography.
She also does talks, teaching and consultancy. Please get in contact if you are interested in collaboration.
Maria has amoungst others made art projects and exhibitions at ARoS Art Museum, Aarhus Kunsthal, Augustiana Kunsthal, Munkeruphus and the International Art Center Copenhagen Contemporary.
In 2019 she was awarded with the prize: Danish Design Award Young Talent.
She received several working grants from Statens Kunstfond / Danish Arts Foundation and in 2025 an Honorary grant for artistic achievement from Jens Ejnar & Johanne Larsens fond til støtte af unge bildende kunstnere.
Maria Viftrup – CV of chosen projects and exhibitions
Solo shows
Jordsans | Form/Designcenter Malmö, SE (26.04. – 07.06 2025)
Jordsans | Munkeruphus, DK (24.03-12.05 2024)
Jordsans | NOBA - Norwegian BioArt Arena, NO (25.08 – 31.12 2024)
Fragmentfabrikken | Galerie Pi, Kbh (29.09 – 04.11 2023)
Det Mindste Institut | Galerie Pi, Kbh (2021)
Forundring Forandring | Augustiana Kunsthal, Augustenborg, 2019
Performance og public engagement
Jordsans | Vejle Kunstmuseum (2025)
Jordsans | Kunstnernes Påskeudstilling (2025)
Jordsans Spa | Metropolis Performing Landscapes, Københavns Internationale Teater (2024 and 2026)
Geofuturistisk Eksperiment (Klimafolkemødet 2020)
Spild af Vores Tid | ARoS Public (2019)
Group shows
The Hall of Failure | Kunsthal Aarhus, DK (26.06.2026 – 03.01.2027)
På Papir | Skitsehandlen (31.05 – 30.08 2025)
Kunstnernes Påskeudstilling | Kunsthal Aarhus, DK (2025)
Rod/System | Exhibition platform: Renæssancejord, Vridsløselille Statsfængsel. Curator: Sissel Fuglsang-Smidt, Jordens Hus (2023)
INGENMANDSLAND | Copenhagen Contemporary – with Rune Fjord and Amanda Luna (14.8 - 5.9.2021)
Commisioned works for public spaces
Arkiv fra en Forandring | Designskolen Kolding (2024)
Følsomme Fragmenter, Banegaarden Kbh (2020)
Residencies
Artist in Residence at the construction site – 2 years supported by Statens Kunstfond | Engen – Kulturhus og Bibliotek, Vejle (01.02 2021-31.01.2027)
ARoS Atelier | AroS Kunstmuseum, DK (2020)
Teaching
BA course: FUTURE | Design School Kolding, 2026, 2025, 2024
MA course: Preffered Futures | Design School Kolding, 2020, 2029
Week course: COLOUR | Skals Håndarbejsskole 2019
Grants and Awards
2025: Honorary grant for artistic achievement, Jens Ejnar & Johanne Larsens fond til støtte af unge bildende kunstnere
2024: Working grant, Statens Kunstfond
2023: Working grant Statens Kunstfond
2021: Nordisk Kulturfond, Nordisk Kulturkontakt and Statens Kunstfond support for Jordsans collaboration
2021: Knud Højgaards Fond - support to INGENMANDSLAND
2020: Special working grant, (Statens Kunstfonds Særlige Arbejdslegat)
2020: Working grant for young talents, Statens Kunstfond
2019: Danish Design Award Young Talent
Education
BA og MA from Designskolen Kolding | 2014-2019
Specializing in textiles, sustainability and speculative design.