It wasn’t in a metropolis like New York, London or Paris, it was in a small town in Denmark. It wasn’t one of the great masters who intrigued me and got me asking questions – it was a painting quietly hanging in a museum off the beaten track entitled The Troll and the Birds by the CoBrA artist Asger Jorn.

There it was – saturated with colour, brim-full with trees and birds. Hundreds and hundreds of birds. I sat down and started counting them – a seemingly Sisyphean task; the deeper you were dragged into this forest, the more birds began to appear from the canvas. From that moment on I was fascinated with the CoBrA artists and their way of seeing things, and my love affair with art had begun.

My work over the years since has allowed me to travel around the world and stand face to face with the greats - Picasso at the Prado, Botticelli and Da Vinci at the Uffizi and Rembrandt at the Hermitage - but it was that canvas of birds that affected me the most.

Although I started collecting in my early twenties, it would take about fifteen more years before I started working with artists. One of the reasons for founding Artica was to make art by young contemporaries accessible, while at the same time providing a quality service in an exciting environment. Since the early days, both friends and strangers have asked me all kinds of questions about artists and collecting art. I have found much pleasure in advising them, helping them get started, and finding art that is right for them.

The vision for Artica is to present a range of work that inspires me. Much of the art shown on Artica has stopped me in my tracks and made me think, if only for a moment.

To me, this is what art should be about.

For many people, the art world can be intimidating. When I started visiting galleries and art fairs I felt I didn’t really fit in, but as I started to get to know people, I was fascinated with the marvellous and strange anecdotes they relayed, and with the advice they generously offered. It was and is a fascinating world.

Henrik Riis
Director

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The foundation of Artica Worldwide is based upon our relationships with our artists, customers and staff which rely on friendships formed with common incentives and collective attitudes.

We do accept submissions. Please email to us on submission@artica.com, including:

- 3-4 samples of your work in a format of min 500 pixels wide
- your website address (if you have one)
- a brief history about youself

Thank you.