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Mogens Andersen (1916-2003), was a Danish painter. He was a student at P. Rostrup Bøyesen's painting school 1933-1939 and made his debut in 1935 at the Artists' Autumn Exhibition.

In this early phase, he painted pastose figurines in the earth color scale, inspired by "dark painters" such as Svend Guttorm and Niels Lergaard. But at the same time he began to take an interest in early French modernism, which has occupied him throughout his life.

In 1945 he settled in Paris (where he lived for periods until 1965). Here, French lyrical-abstract art was of decisive importance for his form of expression. Inspired by i.a. Pierre Soulages and Jean Bazaine he developed his characteristic dark, dynamic arabesques on a light bottom.

Mogens Andersen's first major decoration of Copenhagen's Main Library on Kultorvet (1957-1959) caused fierce debate about abstract art. Since then he won wide recognition and carried out a large number of decorative tasks, including a large ceramic decoration for the art museum in Bochum in Germany (1981) and the decoration of Sejs-Svejbæk Church near Silkeborg (1990). Mogens Andersen also expressed himself in color graphics, in tapestries, woven by Lise Warburg, and in ceramic works for Den Kgl. Porcelain factory.

Mogens Andersen was also a diligent writer, and his personal development and relationship with art can be followed in the books Modern French Painting (1948), Around the Sources (1967) and Nødigt, but still like (1976), which were followed by several memoirs. He developed a pedagogical work, i.a. at the continuation of Rostrup Bøyesen's painting school 1952-1959.

His many positions of trust include the chairmanship of the Statens Kunstfond 1977-1980. Mogens Andersen was a member of several French and Danish artists' associations, including. Bølleblomsten 1942-1950 and Grønningen 1953-1965 and from 1984. He received the 1949 Eckersberg Medal and the 1984 Thorvaldsen Medal.