Steen Ipsen is known for his exploration of themes related to form, composition, and spatial context. He uses circular, elliptical and biomorphic shapes to create complex and refined structures. His sculptures are accentuated with intertwined PVC cords, giving them an undulating sense of movement. The pieces are monochromatic and created intuitively. Despite the influence of 3D modeling, Ipsen works with basic technology, shaping and assembling his pieces by hand from the beginning. The works appear to float upward, defying gravity, with negative space playing a crucial role. Ipsen continually expands his vocabulary, and over the past three decades his work has grown in scale, complexity and ambition.

He studied at the Royal Danish Academy, School of Design, and the Kolding School of Design. In 1996 he was appointed head of the Ceramics and Glass Department at the Royal Danish Academy. Ipsen is co-founder of Copenhagen Ceramics (CC). His work has been widely exhibited and forms part of the collections of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Design Museum in Copenhagen, the CLAY Museum in Middelfart (Denmark), the Hetjens Museum in Düsseldorf, the Trapholt Museum of Art in Kolding (Denmark), the Höganäs Museum (Sweden), the Musée de Sèvres, the Musée Magnelli (France), and the World Ceramic Center in Icheon (South Korea), among others.