Naja Abelsen

Naja Abelsen
Born	1964 (age 60–61) Brønderslev
Nationality	Danish-Greenlandic
Education	Kunsthøjskolen i Holbæk Billedskolen (1987-1989) Danish Design School (1990-1996)

Naja Abelsen (born 1964) is a Danish-Greenlandic painter and illustrator. Much of her art is inspired by the myths and sagas of Greenland. In addition to her work as a book illustrator, she has designed 18 stamps for Post Greenland.[1][2]

Biography

Born on 19 April 1964 in Brønderslev, Abelsen is the daughter of a Greenlandic father, the teacher Adolf Konrad Boas Henrik Abelsen, a teacher, and a Danish mother, Kirsten Fokdal, manager of an old people's home. As a child, she spent nine years in Greenland's Qaqortoq where she was exposed to the cultures of both Denmark and Greenland. After attending Kunsthøjskolen i Holbæk (Holbæk's art folk school), she spend two years at Billedskolen in Copenhagen (1987–89) followed by six years at the Danish Design School (1990–96).[1]

Her art is inspired by the people and animals of Greenland, as can be seen in her book illustrations and her work on logos and postage stamps.[1]

In March 2017, Abelsen who has lived on the island of Ærø since 2001 opened a new gallery on Vestergade in Ærøskøbing where many of her works can be seen.[3]

Selection of books illustrated by Naja Abelsen

• Kästner, Erich (2008). Das doppelte Lottchen. Easy Readers. ISBN 9788723906397.
• Kappel Jensen, Gry (2010). Slædehundenes suk. Turbine. ISBN 9788770902687.
• Naidoo, Beverley (1999). Chain of Fire. Aschehoug. ISBN 9788711091326.
• Petersen, H.C. (2001). Den fiffige ravn - og andre beretninger om det levende i mit land. Atuakkiorfik. ISBN 9788755815582.
• Rasmussen, Knud (2000). Myter og Sagn fra Grønland. Sesam. ISBN 978-87-11-13259-3.
• Rasmussen, Knud (2016). Myter og Sagn fra Grønland: Anden samling. Lindhardt og Ringhof. ISBN 978-87-11-52791-7.
• Stephensen, Birgit (1989). Aura og farver. Borgen. ISBN 9788741888248.

References

1. "Naja Abelsen" (in Danish). Kunstindeks Danmark / Weilbachs Kunstnerleksikon. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
2. "Besat af ulve" (in Danish). Information. 5 May 1999. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
3. "Naja Abelsen åbner galleri i nye lokaler" (in Danish). Fyns Amts Avis. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.

Further reading

• Ljungdahl, Bjarne (2013). Naja Abelsen – en unik kunstner. Panigiit.

External links

• Naja Abelsen's website