Elizabeth Romhild’s Odyssey
Danish artist Elizabeth Romhild, often referred to as "Denmark's Picasso," is best known for her vibrant, surreal paintings of the female form. With exhibitions and collectors across the globe – from Denmark to New York, Singapore, Australia, and Italy – she has made a significant impact on the international art scene. Now, she is releasing a luxurious coffee table book, Elizabeth Romhild’s Odyssey, which takes readers on a curated journey through 40 years of watercolours, oil paintings, bronze sculptures, and design and lifestyle products. The book is enriched with personal stories from her studios, galleries, and encounters with foreign cultures that have inspired her artistic journey.
Elizabeth Romhild’s Odyssey is a must-have for art enthusiasts and will be released on October 10. In connection with the book launch, Elizabeth Romhild will be in Denmark to meet readers and art lovers.
Born in Denmark and based in Bangkok, Elizabeth Romhild is a prominent name on the international art scene. Her distinctive style, featuring exotic colours and erotic forms, has evolved through her extensive travels and experiences with diverse cultures. Elizabeth Romhild’s Odyssey offers readers a deep dive into her exploration of identity, culture, and history, which have shaped her works over the years.
"I’ve encountered stories, colours, scents, and forms that have called out to me, begging to be transformed into art. In the same way, I hope that readers will feel a spark of inspiration as they experience the book – from my earliest watercolours to my vibrant oil paintings and latest designs. Inviting readers on this artistic journey, where time and place merge with creative expression, is a dream come true," says Elizabeth Romhild.
Elizabeth Romhild (b. 1960) is an internationally acclaimed visual artist. Born in Denmark to Danish-Armenian parents, she has lived in Southeast Asia for many years. Her work is deeply influenced by her experiences in countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, the U.S., Indonesia, and Thailand. Romhild’s artistic expressions, including oil paintings, bronze sculptures, and designs, are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.
Pre-order here.
“Of Eros and Demons” Blogpost
My friend and author Tuptim Malakul Lane has kindly written a post about my art and my painting “The Ultimate Supper” on her blog “Fun, Fit & Fabulous”. Read her article here.
Mango Art Festival 2022 with Sonite Surfaces Thailand
I had the honor of exhibiting my mosaic art with Sonite Surfaces Thailand at the annual Mango Art Festival in Bangkok. The show was held at the amazing River City Bangkok, where I also held an Artist Talk about my transition from fine art to design.
Here are some photos of the opening night. Thank you so much to Sonite Surfaces, River City Bangkok, and everyone who came to see the show!
Influential Armenian Women of the World
Viva-MTS is a company that focuses on highlighting the many Armenians across the world who have contributed to their various fields of work, from the arts and music to the sciences. Together with the Panarmenian Geographic Association, they have published numerous volumes with beautiful tributes to these Armenians, most recently, two volumes dedicated to influential Armenian women.
Elizabeth had the great honour of being featured in “Influential Armenian Women of the World: Volume 12”, which you can view here.
Feature in Ebeltoft Folketidende
Elizabeth is back in Ebeltoft, the town where she had her European debut as an artist in 1998. This time, her porcelain designs were featured in Ebeltoft’s newspaper Ebeltoft Folketidende, showcasing the festive table setting she created as inspiration for the upcoming holiday season. Her tableware designs and select lithographies are being sold at the interior design boutique and showroom FASMAS Danmark in Ebeltoft,
Below are some articles from her Ebeltoft exhibitions over the years.
A Festive Display at Fasmas Danmark
Inspired by my iconic and colourful artworks, I have designed three beautiful tableware collections for a dining experience that stimulates all of the senses. I will be showcasing and selling my tableware designs in the newly opened interior store and showroom Fasmas Scandinavian Lifestyle. The boutique is located in Ebeltoft, Denmark, the town where I first had my European debut as an artist in 1998.
Visit Fasmas to see the festive tablescape I created to set the mood for the upcoming holiday season. I am hoping to inspire you to be creative in daily life, starting with the dining table as your canvas.
My designs are also available online on the Fasmas webshop.
EAC Painting
In 1997, when my husband Peter was working with EAC on Oriental Avenue, Bangkok, I painted the old EAC Building.
Some years ago I donated the painting to Asia House in Copenhagen, where it hung in one of the meeting rooms. However, due to recent downsizing, they could not keep the painting any longer so it was returned to us in Bangkok.
The old EAC building is owned by Khun Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi and therefore I decided to donate the painting to their family. I had the great honour of presenting the painting to Khun Charoen, his wife Khunying Wanna, and their daughter Khun Wallapa Traisorat at their beautiful residence, where they also took time to show me around. Afterwards Khun Wallapa, who is CEO of Asset World Corporation Pcl., invited us for lunch together with Mr. Lee Lin, Head of Product Strategy and Development at AWC.
During the lunch we were also informed about the future of the old EAC building, which will be very exciting. Over the next few years, the building will undergo a major renovation, while preserving the original style, whereafter my painting will be displayed.
Mango Art Festival with Sonite Surfaces Thailand
Mango Art Festival is a celebration of different creative and artistic expressions, from contemporary art, to photography, to product design, exhibited in the heart of our beloved Big Mango. The show was held at Lhong 1919 from the 3rd to the 6th of April, 2021, where I exhibited my mosaic work in collaboration with Sonite Surfaces Thailand.
Sonite mosaics, which are made of the highest quality synthetic polymer composition materials, remain unparalleled within today’s design community. Crafted by talented artisans making the most of ground–breaking technological advances, the materials allow for effortless customisation through a myriad of texture, pattern, and colour combinations.
My Elizabeth Romhild x Sonite Surfaces collaboration includes a number of my original paintings as mosaic art and various mosaic table designs. I have also designed a custom mosaic kitchen counter for a client in Panama.
Thank you to Sonite Surfaces Thailand and Mango Art Festival for a wonderful exhibition, and thank you to everyone who came by to see it.
Fine Art Magazine Q&A
MATDOT Art Center Fine Art Magazine Q&A
FAM: What is the message behind the painting 'The Blue Room'?
ER: Social distancing and the art of loneliness expressed in symbolism holding the key to the locked heart facing the new confrontations. Feverish tune of the distant requiem , conducted by the many temptations of erroneous behaviours.
FAM: As you mentioned about your art is related to Picasso, May I ask the element that inspired by him.
ER: As a young Artist I was very fascinated by Picasso’s unique artistic style and art journey. Picasso was not my inspiration, but unconsciously may have influenced some of my paintings. Maybe why today my art is known to be bold and whimsical!
FAM: How do you feel about COVID19 outbreak? is it make you sad or happy? or more productive?
ER: We all experienced how quickly the old normal can become the new normal. The Covid-19 has of course not been a happy time, but it’s been a time many has had the chance to look deeper into our feelings, which has for me been inspiring for the creativity.
Power of Hope
GONG XI FA CHAI
“The Chinese New Year of the Bull”
A Poem for Elizabeth Romhild’s Painting Power of Hope
By Tom Vitayakul
Mischievous Mouse and Rascal Rat nearly end their laughs
In the “New Normal” when our lives only lived in half.
Coronavirus has been crowned its novel reign.
Face masks cannot defend the global disdain.
Comes charging the New Year of the Bull,
Welcoming vaccines vital to life in full,
Conveying vigour, power and energy, Reinforcing our hope and positivity.
Baan Lae Suan Magazine Interview
The Thai home and garden magazine Baan Lae Suan did a lovely interview showcasing my home and art studio for their December issue:
“We needed space for living and the art studio. Finally, we found this place and fell in love with it because of the big space and the beautiful open view of the sky and cityscape. My first thought was that the kitchen and the pantry should be near the big terrace to give an airy atmosphere.” Elizabeth says of the 250 square meter condominium she and her husband have lived in for the past 5 years. “We love to decorate. It's like a game for us. Most of our furniture comes from our old house, where we lived since 1988. When we had to move we realised how much stuff we had collected from over the years. We have collected many artefacts and paintings from our journeys, so we had to choose some to bring to our new home, and leave some.”
Elizabeth’s vivacious personality is obviously reflected in her home decoration, especially in her mix and match style that makes her home never boring. The open plan house is like her big canvas with the living room, pantry, dining room and bedroom all connected harmoniously by the “fifty shades of grey” wall. “I like to mix between the modern paintings with antiques, antique furniture with modern, and the old with the new. So the lighting is very important. I use indirect lighting to create the atmosphere and let the paintings shine. That's why I chose the grey walls. The grey is good for everything in our home.” The layout also represents her happy thoughts. “I don't like to place things in a “normal” way. Why does it all have to be straight? So I did the layout of my sofa at an angle. I don't want everything to be too perfect. It's more fun that way.”
About her art studio, she says “We bought the apartment next door to turn into my art studio, connecting it to our living place.” The studio is full of Elizabeth’s paintings spanning over 30 years. Her new large, curved painting is in the centre of the studio surrounded by a lot of her other paintings, making the studio colourful and powerful. She has a sliding rack built into the wall to keep her paintings away from direct light.”
@baanlaesuan
POST-COVID Group Exhibition
It all begins with an idea.
From the 12th of November until the 30th of December, I will be exhibiting some new works at MATDOT Art Center in Bangkok as a part of the POST-COVID group exhibition.
“COVID-19 appeared in this world and it has restructured the way humans live. Such a sudden change forced everyone to find the right balance of living. This is a big and important ripple. Social distancing has created new patterns of interaction between urban society, countries and the world. Be that as it may, people from all walks of life still have to carry on with their lives whether they are businessmen, government officials, artists, singers, actors and many more. The POST-COVID exhibition presents interpretations from 18 artists on the Coronavirus outbreak that started at the beginning of the year, which was the peak of the outbreak. Everyone knew about this virus. Later, several countries announced that they were successful in developing the vaccine. USA, Russia and India, who reported the news about the vaccine development, were among the top countries having a high number of infected patients. One good thing about the news about vaccine development, however, was that it gave people of the world some hope and eliminated some fear from them. I hope that this POST-COVID exhibition will enable people to see the roles and responsibility artists have for the society.” — Tawatchai Somkong, curator
“The Party” 170 x 170 cm, acrylic on canvas
“The Blue Room” 97 x 140 cm, oil on canvas
Maison Artinian x Elizabeth Romhild Jewellery Launch
In collaboration with Maison Artinian, I have designed a whimsical jewellery collection inspired by my artwork. Thank you to everyone who came to the “La Bohème” collection launch!
Thailand Tatler writes:
“An art piece gets its value not from the medium but from the message imbued by the artist. For the first time, Thailand based Danish-Armenian painter Elizabeth Romhild’s priceless childhood memory is projected onto precious materials, including diamond, 18K white gold, onyx and mother-of-pearl. In collaboration with Maison Artinian, a conceptual jewellery house in Bangkok, Romhild releases her first fine jewellery line—La Bohème.
Prior to this alliance with the Maison, the painter had painted a series under the same name. “The story of this collection goes way back when as a little girl, I loved listening to my mother play the piano and later as a young girl, I even drew the piano on a piece of the school paper for my close friend,” Elizabeth tells about the childhood memory that later became the subject of her artistic endeavours.
Rhythms, motifs of black and white keys of a piano and hands playing the instrument are all objects from her bygone years. Today, the reverberation is translated into a whimsical yet charming jewellery collection for independent women who believe the art is not a thing, but rather a way of living. The name La Bohème is a tribute to how Elizabeth grew as an artist and the echo of French-Armenian musician Charles Aznavour’s song. Under Elizabeth’s artistic direction, Maison Artinian’s artisans have created wearable pieces, such as the longue poitrine necklace, statement pendants, earrings and rings charged with the vitality of bohemians.”
Shop my jewellery online at:
L’Officiel Magazine Interview
I had the pleasure of opening up my home and art studio to L’Officiel Thailand. Thanks for the great interview, L’Officiel!
Thailand Tatler Magazine Interview
Thailand Tatler came by to see our home and studio. Thanks for the interview!
“Elizabeth and Peter Romhild invite us for Christmas cookies in their art-studded gallery and home. Pat Leenutaphong talks mistletoe and Picasso. Elizabeth and Peter Romhild recently decided to move to an apartment at the Crystal Garden Condominium in Sukhumvit after their children Wenja and Henrik had flown the nest for university. Approaching thick teak doors, we have a distinctly analogue moment, physically ringing the metal doorbell by pulling on a rope. Little garden gnomes, tinsel and the smell of Christmas greet us as Peter leads us in through the double doors; Elizabeth walks over with a smile and wide-open arms.”
Read the full interview here:
Wine Label for Ebeltoft 700th Anniversary
The Danish city of Ebeltoft turned 700 years old in 2001 and, to celebrate, Elizabeth designed a limited edition label with her painting “Woman with Wine” for the 1994 Château la Bastide Haut-Médoc wine. The apple, a symbol of the harbour city, decorates the vibrant painting with a view of the ocean in the background.
Elizabeth also exhibited her paintings at the Ebeltoft Kunstforening as a part of the events and festivities celebrating the city.