Galleri Bruun – Art Gallery of Charlotte Bruun

A contemporary art hideaway in Kolding’s industrial zone

Galleri Bruun sits in a modest unit on Platinvej, part of an unassuming industrial area a short distance from Kolding’s centre. Step through the door and the surroundings change quickly from warehouses and workshops to a white-walled world of colour and canvas. The space functions both as a gallery and as the working studio of artist Charlotte Bruun, so there is an immediate sense of entering a place where art is actively being made rather than passively stored. Natural light from large windows mixes with gallery spots to pick out the texture of thick acrylic paint and fine lines of drawing. The room is compact but thoughtfully arranged, with larger works commanding the main walls and smaller pieces creating intimate clusters. It feels informal and personal, more like being invited into an artist’s creative universe than visiting a conventional commercial gallery.

The expressive visual language of Charlotte Bruun

Charlotte Bruun has worked professionally with visual art since the early 2000s, focusing mainly on acrylic painting with an expressive, contemporary edge. Her work is often abstract, built from gestural brushstrokes, layered colour fields and contrasts between soft washes and sharper, graphic elements. At times, figurative hints emerge – a skyline, a silhouette, or a suggestion of landscape – before dissolving back into abstraction. The colour palette ranges from Nordic cool tones to warm, saturated hues, often in the same piece, creating a sense of emotional tension. Surfaces may reveal traces of scratching, scraping and overpainting, giving each canvas a tactile depth. Many works are large-scale, designed to command attention in living rooms, offices or public spaces, but you will also see smaller works on paper and limited fine-art prints that condense the same vocabulary into a more intimate format.

A working studio where ideas turn into canvases

One of the charms of Galleri Bruun is catching a glimpse of the studio side of the space. Easels, paint tubes, sketches and test canvases may be visible beyond the main exhibition area, quietly revealing how finished works evolve. Rather than polished perfection, you are invited into an environment where experimentation and process are part of the story. On the walls, you may notice series of works that explore related motifs or colour combinations, showing how a single idea is tried repeatedly until it finds its most convincing form. The mix of framed works, stretched canvases and stacked pieces leaning against the wall adds to the feeling of a living, evolving practice rather than a fixed, static display.

Browsing, conversation and collecting

Visitors are free to wander at their own pace, pausing to take in individual works from different distances. Stand close to observe the way acrylic paint has been layered, then step back to see how fields of colour resolve into an overall composition. Pieces range from compact works ideal for small urban apartments to expansive canvases that can serve as a room’s focal point. Because the artist herself often hosts the space during opening hours, there is a good chance to discuss ideas, ask about techniques or talk through the story behind particular works. For those considering a purchase, it is possible to get practical advice on size, framing, hanging and combinations of multiple works. Even if you are not buying, the atmosphere is welcoming to anyone curious about contemporary Danish painting.

A quiet cultural stop in Kolding’s creative landscape

Galleri Bruun forms part of Kolding’s wider network of design and art experiences, which ranges from historic sites to contemporary museums and smaller galleries. Its location in a light-industrial area reflects a broader trend of artists reclaiming such spaces as flexible, high-ceilinged studios. The gallery’s limited weekly opening hours mean visits are most rewarding when timed carefully, but this also contributes to an unhurried, almost private atmosphere once you are inside. It is a satisfying short stop on a broader day exploring Kolding’s cultural life, and a particularly appealing detour for travellers who value meeting working artists in their own environment rather than only encountering finished artworks in larger institutions.