Famous Norwegian Artists

Vote for Your Favourite Norwegian Artists

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 1 
Theodor Kittelsen
(Artist, illustrator)
Theodor Kittelsen
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Birthdate: April 27, 1857
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kragerø, Norway
Died: January 21, 1914

Theodor Kittelsen was a Norwegian artist best remembered for his nature paintings and illustrations of legends and fairy tales, especially of trolls. Widely regarded as one of the most popular Norwegian artists of all time, Kittelsen's art has inspired the cover design of many albums released by famous folk metal and black metal bands like Empyrium, Burzum, Satyricon, and Otyg.

 2 
Odd Nerdrum
(Norwegian Figurative Painter Who Founded the Kitsch Movement in Painting)
Odd Nerdrum
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Birthdate: April 8, 1944
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Helsingborg, Sweden

Odd Nerdrum is a Norwegian painter whose figurative artwork is showcased in several museums worldwide. Regarded as one of the greatest contemporary classical figurative painters, Nerdrum is credited with initiating the Kitsch movement. His artwork has inspired several other artworks including a scene from the film The Cell and a dance piece titled The Oracle by Australian choreographer Meryl Tankard.

 3 
Peter Nicolai Arbo
(Painter)
Peter Nicolai Arbo
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Birthdate: June 18, 1831
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Drammen, Norway
Died: October 14, 1892

Norwegian painter Peter Nicolai Arbo is best known for his illustrations of history books and paintings of Norse mythology. The Wild Hunt and King Sverre’s Escape over Voss Mountains remain 2 of his most popular works. He also painted landscapes such as View of Frognerslot from Skovveien.

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 4 
Frits Thaulow
(Painter)
Frits Thaulow
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Birthdate: October 20, 1847
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Oslo Christiania, Norway
Died: November 5, 1906

One of the earliest Skagen painters, Norwegian artist Frits Thaulow was a pioneering figure of Impressionist painting in Norway. Best remembered for his marine landscape painting, he later received the French Legion of Honor. Picquigny, Ambiance Du Soir, and Dordrecht remain some of his best-known works.

 5 
Admiral P
(Recording Artist)
Admiral P
1
Birthdate: March 27, 1982
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Lusaka, Zambia

Norwegian-Zambian reggae artist Philip Boardman, also known as Admiral P, is now one of Norway’s top solo musicians. He won a Norwegian Grammy for Engel and has his own 9-piece band, The Global Citizen Band. Tracks such as Snakke litt and Kallenavn remain his best-known hits.

 6 
Per Krohg
(Norwegian Artist Best Known for the Mural He Created for the United Nations Security Council Chamber)
Per Krohg
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Birthdate: June 18, 1889
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Åsgårdstrand, Norway
Died: March 3, 1965

Per Krohg was a Norwegian artist best remembered for creating the famous UN Security Council mural. The mural has been exhibited in the United Nations headquarters since August 22, 1952. Per Krohg, who taught at the National College of Art and Design and National Art Academy, is credited with teaching artists like Tulla Blomberg Ranslet and Frithjof Tidemand-Johannessen among others.

 7 
Pola Gauguin
(Painter, Biographer, Art critic)
Pola Gauguin
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Birthdate: December 6, 1883
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: July 2, 1961

Pola Gauguin was a Danish-Norwegian biographer, art critic, and painter. Apart from being a prolific painter, Gauguin was also the founder of his artist school in Oslo. He ran the school till 1924 and then lived through an artistic crisis during the 1920s. The crisis in him found expression through his literary works and he worked for many popular publications.

 8 
Rolf Nesch
(Norwegian Expressionist Artist Known for His Printmaking)
Rolf Nesch
1
Birthdate: January 7, 1893
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Germany
Died: October 27, 1975

German-born printmaker Rolf Nesch had spent a while in British prisons for his participation in World War I and moved to Norway during the rise of the Nazis. He was one of the pioneers of the use of metal collage in printmaking and also used wood, glass, and stones in his art.

 9 
Olaf Gulbransson
(Norwegian Artist, Painter and Designer Known for His Caricatures and Illustrations)
Olaf Gulbransson
0
Birthdate: May 26, 1873
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Oslo, Norway
Died: September 18, 1958

One of the first to satirize Adolf Hitler, Norwegian artist and caricaturist Olaf Gulbransson spent a major part of his career in Germany and, interestingly, also supported the Nazis. He was associated with the satirical magazine Simplicissimus and also illustrated books. He lent his name to the prestigious Olaf Gulbransson Prize.