Poppykalas

Poppykalas is the artistic practice of Danish visual artist, author, and floral designer Thilde Maria Haukohl Kristensen. Based in Klitmøller, Thy, her work revolves around the recurring motif of flowers, explored across a wide range of media including oil painting, watercolor, ceramics, textile, and sculptural materials. Through this multidisciplinary approach, she develops a cohesive visual language in which floral forms function as both subject and structure.

Her work is characterized by a strong sense of material experimentation and sensory engagement. By combining traditional techniques with unconventional materials—such as pollyfilla, epoxy, and artificial or textile flowers—she creates compositions that move between painting and object. These works often carry a tactile quality, where surface, colour, and form contribute to a layered visual experience.

Central to her practice is an ongoing engagement with the theme of softness. Her oil paintings are defined by smooth, almost fluid surfaces, while her watercolours evoke a lighter, more atmospheric presence. Across these works, colour and gesture create compositions that feel both immediate and immersive, reflecting an intuitive and expressive approach to painting.

The motif of flowers serves as a continuous thread within her work, connecting personal history with broader cultural associations. Drawing inspiration from her grandmother and from traditional floral painting, she revisits a genre historically associated with femininity. By embracing and reinterpreting these references, her work foregrounds qualities such as sensitivity, ornament, and emotional expression, positioning them as central rather than marginal.

Her practice reflects a close relationship with her surroundings. Influenced by the natural landscape of Thy, her work carries a sense of vitality and movement, translating elements of the environment into abstracted floral forms. Through this connection, she creates works that are both rooted in observation and shaped by imagination.

Education

• University of Copenhagen, Master of Arts in Modern Culture

Collections

• The Wall Street Hotel
• Novo Nordisk
• Netcompany