Queen Sonja’s art sells well

OHMYGOSSIP — Queen Sonja of Norway opened her first separate exhibition of her own art at a gallery in the southern coastal town of Kragerø over the weekend (13 July). By Monday (15 July), more than half of her graphics had been sold.

“It’s like heading into an exam,” the queen told reporters assembled at Galleri Nicolines hus in Kragerø, where artists from Edvard Munch to Frits Thaulow have lived and worked. “You hope you’ll pass.”

She certainly did, given the brisk sales among her 32 pictures (60 versions of each available), most of them produced last year under the tutelage of contemporary Norwegian artists Ørnulf Opdahl and Kjell Nupen. Nupen was present at the opening of the , queen’s exhibition, and claimed he was proud of his student.

“The queen has always stood on her own, but it’s still a big deal to be here for her debut,” Nupen told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK).

More than 1,000 people showed up when the exhibit opened to the public on Saturday. Within the first 90 minutes, more than 200 pictures and graphics had been sold.

The queen is known for her strong interest in art and her own large art collection, some of which has been exhibited at the Henie-Onstad Art Center outside Oslo. Norwegian artists have often viewed her as an important supporter of their work.

Her own exhibit in Kragerø was only due to run for two weeks, until July 25.