- Vibrant abstract paintings that capture the pulse of joy and the intimate,
spontaneous expression of the moment.
About
Kirsten Dahlerup is a contemporary abstract artist based in St. Leonards-on-Sea, UK, originally from Elsinore, Denmark. Her vibrant, nature-inspired abstract paintings are created with acrylic paint and oil sticks, capturing energy, emotion, and the joy of spontaneous creative expression.
Kirsten’s work blends colour, texture, and movement to create pieces that are both visually striking and emotionally resonant. Her art is known for inviting viewers to reconnect with their own sense of presence, aliveness, and happiness.
A Life Inspired by Art and Nature
Growing up in Denmark, Kirsten frequently visited the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, where she first fell in love with abstract painting. It was here she discovered the tactile joy of acrylics and the way layered, colourful textures could evoke deep emotion. These early experiences instilled a lifelong love of colour, texture, and the expressive possibilities of paint.
Living close to the sea in the UK and swimming year-round continues to shape her artistic vision. Nature informs the shapes, colours, and rhythms in her work, not as literal landscapes but as expressive, intuitive responses to energy, light, and the natural world.
The Creative Process
Kirsten’s abstract paintings emerge spontaneously from the moment. Each piece begins with a spark - a feeling of joy, curiosity, or the energy of the environment - and evolves freely on the canvas. She allows intuition and emotion to guide the brush, translating internal and external experiences into vibrant colour, layered textures, and expressive forms.
Her process is a dialogue between feeling and form, between inner aliveness and the energy of nature. The result is abstract art that is at once playful, emotional, and meditative - inviting viewers to pause, feel, and reconnect with their own vitality.
Collectors’ Experience
Collectors often share that Kirsten’s paintings help them reconnect with aspects of themselves that feel joyful, authentic, and present. Her work creates moments of emotional resonance, helping viewers step out of busy minds and into a sensory, embodied experience.
Whether displayed in homes, offices, or galleries, her abstract paintings offer colour, energy, and emotional depth - bringing a sense of aliveness and spontaneity to any space.
Materials and Mediums
Kirsten works primarily in acrylic paint and oil sticks, exploring layered textures, vibrant colour palettes, and expressive mark-making. Her approach is intuitive and fluid, prioritizing feeling, energy, and the creative process over strict representation.
Exhibitions and Shows
Kirsten’s work has been shown widely across the UK, including:
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SOTA’s Affordable Art Fair, London (Curators: Emma Lang & Daniel Etherton, Christie’s Associate Director)
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Winter Exhibition, Rogue Gallery, St. Leonards-on-Sea
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Collected, MOTH, St. Leonards-on-Sea
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Hastings Coastal Currents, MOTH
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Here, There and Somewhere Else, Hastings Arts Forum
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Blue Bliss, Solo Exhibition, MOTH
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SPRUNG, Curated by Louise Whitham, Hastings
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PLAY, Curated by Louise Whitham, Hastings
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WOW III, Works on Walls, Hastings Arts Forum
Her work is collected internationally, particularly by those drawn to expressive, colourful abstract art with emotional depth and movement.
Invitation
Kirsten’s paintings are an invitation: to pause, feel, and reconnect with your own sense of joy, energy, and aliveness. Each piece is a celebration of colour, texture, and the spontaneous beauty of the present moment.