Leif Sylvester Petersen (born 18 April 1940 in Copenhagen) is a Danish multi-artist who has worked across painting, sculpture, music, songwriting, acting and street performance for more than five decades. He rose to prominence in the late 1960s alongside Erik Clausen, when the two rejected the established art world and took their work to the streets, eventually forming the street-circus duo Clausen & Petersen and the band Sylvester og Svalerne. His songs, film and TV roles - including the series Taxa and Rita - and his vivid, satirical visual art have made him one of Denmark's most recognisable cultural figures.
Leif Sylvester performed at Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2026 at Arbejdermuseet in a new trio format together with H.P. Lange and Jarno Varsted.
Leif Sylvester participated in the DR programmes Kunstnerkolonien on Fanø.
Arbejdermuseet opened the large retrospective special exhibition 'Friheden flyver', which runs until 2 August 2026 and covers Leif Sylvester's entire life's work.
The publisher Frydenlund published the art book 'Den store Sylvester' on the occasion of Leif Sylvester's 85th birthday on 18 April 2025; the book reproduces over 700 of his works from 1993-2024.
Leif Sylvester was named artist of the year by Families with Children with Cancer (FMKB) and created the organization's poster for 2025.
Three Danish musicians perform together as a trio for the first time at Kulturhuset i Arden.
Three musicians perform classic songs from 'Sylvester og Svalerne' and their own repertoire in an intimate folk music concert.
Three experienced musicians perform together, showcasing decades of collaboration and dedication to Danish folk traditions.
