Skip to main content

Bjørn Okholm Skaarup

Illustrator and sculptor Bjørn Okholm Skaarup brings vibrant life to his contemporary art through a parade of joyfully imaginative animalistic figures. These creatures are often depicted in anthropomorphic poses, such as a cheetah riding a scooter or a rhino dressed as a harlequin. 

Okholm Skaarup was born in 1973 in Rudkøbing, Denmark. In 1994, he began working at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen. In 2004, he moved to Florence, Italy, to study the work of the Renaissance masters and learn large-scale bronze casting. He received a PhD in 2009 from the European University Institute

Now based in New York City, Okholm Skaarup builds on elements of art history in his work, as seen in his numerous renditions of the Hippo Ballerina, which is a whimsical take on Edgar Degas’s The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer with an enthusiastic nod to Disney. Many of his artworks contain a mischievous twist, like his bronze sculpture of a lion with a crown on his head, riding a rocking horse instead of a majestic stallion. 

Okholm Skaarup is a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors and has exhibited his works at many notable venues, including the Koldinghus Museum in Kolding, Denmark, the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut, the Four Seasons Hotel in Florence and the Hotel Cipriani in Venice.

On 1stDibs, find authentic Bjørn Okholm Skaarup sculptures, prints and paintings.

Sea Lion Juggler
By Bjørn Okholm Skaarup
Located in Greenwich, CT
Edition of 9 Comes attached to a black steel base. Bjørn Okholm Skaarup was born in Rudkøbing, Denmark in 1973. From 1994 to 2004, Skaarup was an artist at the Danish National Museum, Copenhagen, before moving to Florence and receiving a PhD from the European University Institute in 2009. While in Florence, he studied the work of Renaissance sculptors Donatello, Cellini, and Giambologna, learning the vanishing art of large-scale bronze casting. He also wrote and illustrated books on history, archaeology, and anatomy. In 2012, Skaarup was commissioned by the Koldinghus Museum, Kolding, a former Danish royal residence, to create four large reliefs depicting scenes from the life of Christian IV of Denmark. Skaarup was given his first solo U.S. museum exhibition at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 2015. That same year, the Collectivité of St. Barth acquired a suite of ten animal sculptures for public display throughout the island. In 2017, Skaarup's 15 foot tall monumental sculpture, Hippo Ballerina, was installed in front of Lincoln Center at Dante Park in NYC, in partnership with NYC Parks Art in the Parks program. The artist's now beloved sculpture has been exhibited throughout NYC, next to the iconic Flatiron building, in front of Grand Central Terminal in Pershing Square, and most recently in Stamford, CT in front of the Ferguson Library. Inspired by Degas’ Little Dancer...
Category

2010s Contemporary Bjørn Okholm Skaarup

Materials

Bronze

Porky Drummer
By Bjørn Okholm Skaarup
Located in Greenwich, CT
Edition of 9 Comes attached to a black base. Bjørn Okholm Skaarup was born in Rudkøbing, Denmark in 1973. From 1994 to 2004, Skaarup was an artist at the Danish National Museum, Copenhagen, before moving to Florence and receiving a PhD from the European University Institute in 2009. While in Florence, he studied the work of Renaissance sculptors Donatello, Cellini, and Giambologna, learning the vanishing art of large-scale bronze casting. He also wrote and illustrated books on history, archaeology, and anatomy. In 2012, Skaarup was commissioned by the Koldinghus Museum, Kolding, a former Danish royal residence, to create four large reliefs depicting scenes from the life of Christian IV of Denmark. Skaarup was given his first solo U.S. museum exhibition at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 2015. That same year, the Collectivité of St. Barth acquired a suite of ten animal sculptures for public display throughout the island. In 2017, Skaarup's 15 foot tall monumental sculpture, Hippo Ballerina, was installed in front of Lincoln Center at Dante Park in NYC, in partnership with NYC Parks Art in the Parks program. The artist's now beloved sculpture has been exhibited throughout NYC, next to the iconic Flatiron building, in front of Grand Central Terminal in Pershing Square, and most recently in Stamford, CT in front of the Ferguson Library. Inspired by Degas’ Little Dancer...
Category

2010s Contemporary Bjørn Okholm Skaarup

Materials

Bronze

Porky Drummer
H 12.25 in W 11.5 in D 10 in
Elephant Magician
By Bjørn Okholm Skaarup
Located in Greenwich, CT
Edition of 9 Comes attached to a black steel base. Bjørn Okholm Skaarup was born in Rudkøbing, Denmark in 1973. From 1994 to 2004, Skaarup was an artist at the Danish National Museum, Copenhagen, before moving to Florence and receiving a PhD from the European University Institute in 2009. While in Florence, he studied the work of Renaissance sculptors Donatello, Cellini, and Giambologna, learning the vanishing art of large-scale bronze casting. He also wrote and illustrated books on history, archaeology, and anatomy. In 2012, Skaarup was commissioned by the Koldinghus Museum, Kolding, a former Danish royal residence, to create four large reliefs depicting scenes from the life of Christian IV of Denmark. Skaarup was given his first solo U.S. museum exhibition at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 2015. That same year, the Collectivité of St. Barth acquired a suite of ten animal sculptures for public display throughout the island. In 2017, Skaarup's 15 foot tall monumental sculpture, Hippo Ballerina, was installed in front of Lincoln Center at Dante Park in NYC, in partnership with NYC Parks Art in the Parks program. The artist's now beloved sculpture has been exhibited throughout NYC, next to the iconic Flatiron building, in front of Grand Central Terminal in Pershing Square, and most recently in Stamford, CT in front of the Ferguson Library. Inspired by Degas’ Little Dancer...
Category

2010s Contemporary Bjørn Okholm Skaarup

Materials

Bronze

Crocodile Cymbalist
By Bjørn Okholm Skaarup
Located in Greenwich, CT
Edition of 9 Comes attached to a black steel base. Bjørn Okholm Skaarup was born in Rudkøbing, Denmark in 1973. From 1994 to 2004, Skaarup was an artist at the Danish National Museum, Copenhagen, before moving to Florence and receiving a PhD from the European University Institute in 2009. While in Florence, he studied the work of Renaissance sculptors Donatello, Cellini, and Giambologna, learning the vanishing art of large-scale bronze casting. He also wrote and illustrated books on history, archaeology, and anatomy. In 2012, Skaarup was commissioned by the Koldinghus Museum, Kolding, a former Danish royal residence, to create four large reliefs depicting scenes from the life of Christian IV of Denmark. Skaarup was given his first solo U.S. museum exhibition at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 2015. That same year, the Collectivité of St. Barth acquired a suite of ten animal sculptures for public display throughout the island. In 2017, Skaarup's 15 foot tall monumental sculpture, Hippo Ballerina, was installed in front of Lincoln Center at Dante Park in NYC, in partnership with NYC Parks Art in the Parks program. The artist's now beloved sculpture has been exhibited throughout NYC, next to the iconic Flatiron building, in front of Grand Central Terminal in Pershing Square, and most recently in Stamford, CT in front of the Ferguson Library. Inspired by Degas’ Little Dancer...
Category

2010s Contemporary Bjørn Okholm Skaarup

Materials

Bronze

Hippo Circus Ribbon Dancer II, maquette
By Bjørn Okholm Skaarup
Located in Greenwich, CT
Danish, b. 1973 Bjorn Skaarup holds a MA in History and Art History from the University of Copenhagen, and a PHD in History from the European University Institute in Florence, Italy...
Category

2010s Contemporary Bjørn Okholm Skaarup

Materials

Bronze

Hippo Ballerina, en pointe II
By Bjørn Okholm Skaarup
Located in Greenwich, CT
Edition of 9 Bjorn Okholm Skaarup, Danish, b. 1973 Bjorn Skaarup holds a MA in History and Art History from the University of Copenhagen, and a PHD in History from the European Uni...
Category

2010s Contemporary Bjørn Okholm Skaarup

Materials

Bronze

Hippo Ballerina, fourth position
By Bjørn Okholm Skaarup
Located in Greenwich, CT
AP from and Edition of 9 Bjorn Skaarup, Danish, b. 1973 Bjorn Skaarup holds a MA in History and Art History from the University of Copenhagen, and a PHD in History from the Europea...
Category

2010s Contemporary Bjørn Okholm Skaarup

Materials

Bronze

Hippo Circus Ribbon Dancer
By Bjørn Okholm Skaarup
Located in Greenwich, CT
Edition of 9 Bjorn Skaarup (Danish, b. 1973) holds a MA in History and Art History from the University of Copenhagen, and a PHD in History from the European University Institute in ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Bjørn Okholm Skaarup

Materials

Bronze, Steel

Browse all Art from Bjørn Okholm Skaarup
Shop Now

Artists Similar to Bjørn Okholm Skaarup

Bjørn Okholm Skaarup art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Bjørn Okholm Skaarup art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Bjørn Okholm Skaarup in bronze, metal, fabric and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Bjørn Okholm Skaarup art, so small editions measuring 4 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Daniel Arsham, David Umemoto, and Rainer Lagemann. Bjørn Okholm Skaarup art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,250 and tops out at $195,000, while the average work can sell for $23,000.

Recently Viewed

View All