Jeppe Hein

Jeppe Hein was born in Copenhagen in 1974 and lives and works between Copenhagen and Berlin. 

Jeppe Hein’s practice explores the relationship between artwork, space, and viewer, creating situations in which participation and lived experience are central. Working across sculpture and installation, he combines the formal language of Minimalism with playful, often unexpected interventions that invite physical and psychological engagement. Whether presented in galleries, museums, or public spaces, his works subtly disrupt familiar environments, encouraging viewers to become active participants rather than passive observers. 

During his residency at Atelier Calder, Hein developed CIRCUS HEIN (2009–10), a collaborative project inspired by the performing arts, particularly Calder’s Cirque Calder. Bringing together around thirty artists—including visual artists, designers, architects, photographers, musicians, and performers—the project reimagined the conventions of the traditional circus through performances, costumes, architectural structures, sculptural works, and participatory events. Created in collaboration with the FRAC Centre in Orléans, CIRCUS HEIN extended Hein’s interest in collective experience by transforming Atelier Calder into a multidisciplinary and interactive environment.