The doors have now opened to the exhibition New Humans: Memories of the Future at the New Museum in New York – and Museum Ovartaci is proud to be part of the international artistic community behind the exhibition.

As many as 11 works by Ovartaci are included, contributing to a powerful and timely narrative about the body, identity, and the human of the future. The exhibition explores how we understand ourselves – and each other – in a time shaped by change.

The works are presented in a striking display case on the museum’s second floor and are shown alongside artists who, like Ovartaci, explore the animalistic, the spiritual, and the human in new forms. The exhibition is structured around themes such as the head, the body, and the role of technology in shaping the future human.

Although Ovartaci can now be experienced in New York, this is only a small loan. In Aarhus, Museum Ovartaci still houses the majority of the unique collection of around 650 works.

If you are in New York – or planning a visit – this is a special opportunity to experience Ovartaci in an international context.

📍 New Museum, New York
The exhibition runs until August 2026

The Friends of Museum Ovartaci invite all members to this year’s Annual General Meeting.

The meeting will take place on Monday, 13 April 2026 at 7:30 PM in the Glass Hall at Kulturhus Bunkeren, Olof Palmes Allé 11, 8200 Aarhus N.

Agenda (according to the statutes):

• Election of chairperson for the meeting
• Formalities
• Chair’s annual report
• Presentation and approval of the annual accounts
• Determination of membership fee for the coming year
• Proposals
• Election of board members (cf. §6)
• Election of auditor and deputy auditor
• Any other business

We hope to see many of you for an engaging and inspiring evening.

The general meeting is held in Danish.

– A conversation between author Lea Muldtofte and hospital priest Susanne Engberg

Lea Muldtofte has curated the exhibition GALT!, in which people with lived experience of psychiatric treatment are given a voice. Susanne Engberg has served as a priest at the Psychiatric Center Ballerup for 13 years. In this conversation, they explore the user’s possibilities of being heard within a psychiatric context, and how hope and autonomy are structurally produced—and disrupted.

Drawing on readings from Lea Muldtofte’s novel “Om forladelse” (On Abandonment), they will discuss how a spiritual and poetic language can offer an alternative to a medical and systemic language centered on defects and diagnoses. How does one find a voice when structurally rendered voiceless and without hope?

The conversation takes place in the museum’s special exhibition space on Sunday, April 26, from 2–3 PM.

Participation is free with paid admission to the museum.

 The conversation is held in Danish. 

Treat yourself – and someone you care about – to a break from everyday life and experience the museum in a new way.

On 30 April at 5:00 PM, we invite you to Food & Museum at Museum Ovartaci – an evening where art, storytelling, and presence go hand in hand.

We begin with a guided tour through Ovartaci’s unique universe, sharing stories about the person behind the art and life at the Psychiatric Hospital in Risskov – a place where creativity and life conditions merge in a truly unique way.

Afterwards, a warm meal and a glass of wine will be served in calm and cozy surroundings. The evening continues at your own pace, with time to explore the exhibitions and reflect on the experience.

An evening for immersion, community, and meaningful conversations.

There are only 20 spots available for the guided tour.
Registration deadline: 23 April

Who would you like to share this experience with?

Book your ticket

The tour is held in Danish

Join us for a special guided tour on 2 May at 1PM, where you will get up close to the painter apprentice from Ebeltoft – and learn how he became the artist Ovartaci during his life as a patient at the Psychiatric Hospital in Risskov.

The tour offers insight into Ovartaci’s unique artistic universe and how his works continue to provide new perspectives on identity, illness, and humanity. We also explore the history of the hospital in Risskov and the ideas behind the construction of the characteristic buildings that shaped psychiatric care for more than 160 years.

The tour lasts 45–60 minutes, and we recommend setting aside time afterwards to explore the exhibition on your own.

We look forward to welcoming you

Book your ticket
The tour is held in Danish

What did the voices of those who lived behind the walls of the Jutland Asylum in Risskov sound like? The book “Patientstemmer fra Asylet” (Patient Voices from the Asylum) offers a rare and powerful insight.

Based on 220 letters and patient records from 1852–1920, a series of human stories emerge that have remained hidden for decades. Letters that never reached their recipients and words censored by doctors now provide a unique glimpse into life as a patient – marked by powerlessness, hope, and the struggle to be heard.

The book also reveals a harsh reality in which coercion and control were part of everyday life. Yet within the institutional system, individuals stand out clearly – with their own voices, experiences, and perspectives.

“Patientstemmer fra Asylet” (Patient Voices from the Asylum) is not only a historical work, but an important contribution to understanding the development of psychiatry – and a reminder of the importance of listening to those history has often silenced.

Available in the museum shop or in our  webshop.

Make a difference for art and Museum Ovartaci by becoming a member of the Friends of Museum Ovartaci.

The association Friends of Museum Ovartaci was founded in 2016 and helps ensure that the museum can continue to create engaging exhibitions, develop and preserve its unique collection, and carry on its important work of challenging stigma and fostering understanding of mental illness through art and cultural history.

Your support makes a real difference!

Membership benefits include:

Free admission to the museum for the cardholderand one guest
Invitations to exhibition openings
Invitations to special events
Discounted member prices for selected events

Read more
Membership fee: DKK 325 for a personal membership + guest