Thaddaeus Ropac announces representation of Eva Helene Pade
Thaddaeus Ropac has announced its co-representation of Danish-born, Paris-based painter Eva Helene Pade, in partnership with Copenhagen’s Galleri Nicolai Wallner. Born in 1997, Pade is known for her distinctive figurative work that explores female embodiment. She will make her institutional solo debut at ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art in Denmark, in April 2025. Her first solo exhibition with Thaddaeus Ropac will follow at its London location in October 2025.
The announcement reflects a broader trend of mega-galleries adding emerging artists to their rosters. This has gained momentum recently, with high-profile signings such as Pace Gallery’s representation of Li Hei Di and David Zwirner’s addition of Artsy Vanguard 2022 alum Sasha Gordon, the youngest artist on its roster. Hauser & Wirth also announced that it will represent Michaela Yearwood-Dan and White Cube recently signed Alia Ahmad. These moves mark a new wave of early-career talent now being supported by some of the industry’s biggest players.
Several of the artist’s works, such as Blå aften [Blue Evening] and Dansen [The Dance] (both 2024) were part of Thaddaeus Ropac’s recent survey of contemporary painting, “Embodied Forms: Painting Now.” Pade’s figurative paintings are influenced by Northern European traditions along with mythological and metaphysical elements, drawing inspiration from artists such as Edvard Munch and Otto Dix. Her paintings often feature full-length, interlocking figures emerging from abstract backgrounds. “With my figurative painting, I create blurred lines or gaps that become the language for the things we can't put into words,” Pade said in a statement, discussing her intuitive approach.
This focus on young artists like Pade underscores another theme in the market, where galleries are increasingly investing in younger voices that speak to contemporary social and cultural issues. Thaddaeus Ropac, founder of the gallery, described Pade’s work as “transportative and provocative…pushing forward the possibilities for depicting empowered female embodiment.”
