Stefan Bløndal, Biography

Photo - Phillip Jorgensen

tefan Blöndal was born 1964 in Copenhagen.

Being a prize-winner at age 14 in a drawing competition organised by one of the major Danish newspapers, Stefan Blöndal began his artistic studies the same year, creating pencil, ink, and charcoal drawings at the drawing class of the famous art museum the New Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen. Alongside, he received some basic instruction in the technique of oil painting by the painter Henrik Bloch. At this early age, he travelled and did his own observations of the old masters work at some of the worlds best art museums such as the Prado in Madrid and the National Gallery in London. During one of these trips Stefan Blöndal paid a personal visit to Salvador Dali on his 80th Birthday, May 11. 1984 at the medieval castle Púbol in Catalonia, where he presented Dali a cane as a gift, which he had made out of bronze, ebony, ivory, gold, pearls and a ruby. The handle was formed as a female centaur holding a royal orb and sceptre. The object was shown on Spanish television (see picture).

His future wife, the celebrated Russian pianist from Moscow, Nina Kavtaradze, Stefan Blöndal met when he was 20 years old. After looking at his drawings, she advised him to paint in oils, as his drawing style would ideally suit this type of fine art, and paint would open up a whole new world.

The first public show of Stefan Blöndal´s paintings was held in 1987 at the renowned exhibition hall "Den Frie", (The Independent) in Copenhagen, where he exhibited as "guest artist" with the Scandinavian artists group "Den Nordiske" (The Nordic). With the same group he also exhibited at the Charlottenburg Castle in Berlin. Since then, he has exhibited extensively with solo exhibitions in most European countries. One of the more notable were in 1997 at the gallery Maison de l'Amerique Latine in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, which brought attention across the entire French Riviera and even to the Royal Palace (see details).

He has also been invited to participate at international competitions, where he in France was awarded several times with prizes and medals (see list below).
Stefan Blöndal has been represented by fine art galleries in London, Hamburg and Copenhagen. His paintings are present at private art collections in France, England, Germany, Austria, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Georgia, Russia and the USA.

In the words of art critic Alexandra Anderson: "This Danish artist has resolutely - and consistently - rejected the theoretical conventions of much contemporary art. He has, as they say, marched to his own drummer".

Prizes and Awards:
Gold Medal “Stanislas” at International Exhibition, Nancy, France
2. Prize at lnt. Exhibition, Nice
Silver Medal at Int. Exhibition, Vittel, France
Prize of the Public at Int. Exhibition, Nice
Silver Medal at Int. Exhibition, Sarrebourg, France
Villefranche-sur-Mer Medal at Int. Exhibition, St.-Jean Cap Ferrat, France
Sculptor, professor Gottfred Eickhoff and wife the painter Gerda Eickhoffs Award
The painter Henry Heerups Award
St. Paul de Vence Medal at Int. Exhibition, Nice
Director J.P. Lund and wife Vilhelmine, born Bugges Award
Coupe Art et Création at Int. Exhibition, Vittel, France
Honorary Award, Johan M. Dæhnfeldt and wife Randi Dæhnfeldt´s Foundation
2014, 2015, 2019 American Art Awards

Solo exhibitions:

1988 Pilegården, Brønshøj, Copenhagen
1989 Kokkedal Castle, Brovst, Denmark
1991 Gallery Nybro, Copenhagen
1993 Gallery Gammel Strand, Copenhagen
1993 Ordrup Sognegård, Denmark
1993 Dragsholm Castle, Denmark
1997 Maison de l’Amerique Latine de Monaco, Monte-Carlo
1999 Juhl-Sørensen, Steinway & Sons, Copenhagen
2000 Værket, Randers, Denmark
2001 Gallery Helth, Copenhagen
2002 Gustafs Gallery, Bommeryd, Sweden
2004 Gallery Helth, Copenhagen
2006 Gallery Helth, Copenhagen
2011 Russian Centre of Science and Culture, Copenhagen
2016 Russian Centre of Science and Culture, Copenhagen
2021 Gallery Blöndal, Holmen, Copenhagen
2025 Kunstvinduet, Havneholmen, Copenhagen

Group exhibitions:

1987 Den Frie (The Independant) with group of artists Den Nordiske (The Nordic), Copenhagen
1988 Schloss Charlottenburg, Berlin
1989 Den Nordiske, Den Frie
1991 Sophienholm Castle, Lyngby, Copenhagen
1992 Herning Congress Centre
1993 Herning Congress Centre
1994 Xllème Salon International de Peinture et Sculpture de Vittel, France
1994 Grand Prix International d’Arts Plastiques de la Ville de Nice et de la Région Provence – Alpes – Côte d´Azur, France
1994 Xème Salon International de Peinture et Sculpture de Nancy, France
1995 Galleri Art of Fée, Hamburg
1995 Grand Salon International Prestige de l’Art, St. – Jean Cap Ferrat, France
1995 Grand Prix International d’Arts Plastiques, Nice
1995 Grand Salon International Prestige de I’Europe, Nice
1996 Grand Salon International Prestige de l’Art – Prestige de I’Europe, Nice
1998 Marienlyst International Contemporary Art Gallery, Helsingør, Denmark
1998 Vlllème Salon International de Peinture et Sculpture de Sarrebourg, France
1998 Marienlyst International Contemporary Art Gallery, Helsingør
1998 XVème Salon International de Peinture et Sculpture de Vittel, France
2000 Sharjah Art Museum, United Arab Emirates
2000 The Bloxham Galleries, London
2001 The Bloxham Galleries, London
2001 Tøjhuset, Randers, Denmark
2002 Kultur- og musikhuset Smedeværkstedet, Varde, Denmark
2002 Art Fair at The Forum indoor arena, Copenhagen
2005 Salon “Art du Nu”, Espace Champerret, Paris
2007 Art fair “Art Herning”
2009 Art fair “Art Herning”
2009 Troubadour Art Gallery, Manchester, England
2012 Gallery G3, Odsherred, Denmark

Supplementary information
Other artists in the family:	The Icelandic painter Gunnlaugur Blöndal (1893-1962) (Grandmother´s Cousin). Stefan Blöndal´s Father was the internationally renowned cellist Erling Blöndal Bengtsson (1932 - 2013). Brother: the jeweller Henrik Bløndal Bengtsson.
Princely support:	In 1997 Stefan Blöndal had a solo-exhibition in Monte-Carlo. Before the opening there was sent posters for advertising the exhibition with a reproduction of the painting "Ma femme", but the gallery did not accept the poster, as they found it too indecent. The help came from an unexpected source: HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco expressed to the gallery his unreserved enthusiasm towards the painting and told that everyone in the Palace have had much fun seeing it. The posters were saved and immediately put into use all over the French Riviera.
Art collection:	The painting "Ma femme" was shortly after bought by a member of the famous banker family Rothschild.
Commission:	Stefan Blöndal has decorated a theatre in Copenhagen with 12 paintings in the style of trompe l'oeil, giving illusion of niches with antique Venus statues.
Hobby:	Stefan Blöndal is an active falconer, and during his teens he underwent a training course at The British School of Falconry. He has flown Peregrine- and Saker falcons.
Ancestors:	Family Gallery