Henie Onstad Art Center

Henie Onstad Kunstsenter

 It’s an art museum at Høvikodden in Bærum. It was opened by Sonja Henie and her husband Niels Onstad in 1968. Their private art collection, 110 pictures in all, plus funds to build and run the center, was given by the couple in 1961, when the Sonja Henie and Niels Onstad Foundation was founded. Bærum kommune (county) gave the center the plot to build on.

The Hennie Onstad Art Center holds exhibitions and performances. The center is visited by 100 000 people every year. It also contains Sonja Henie’s prize collection. The donors are buried on the lot.

The center is a very pleasant area to go for a walk. And below the center, there is a very nice small beach. You will also find a quite famous and fancy restaurant, called Bølgen og Moi.

Sonja Henie (1912-1969) was a Norwegian figure skater and a film star. She was a three time Olympic Champion (1928, 1932 and 1936) in Ladies’ Singles, ten-time World Champion (1927-1936), and six-time European Champion (1931-1936). She won more World and Olympic titles than any other female figure skater. And as if that was not enough, at the height of her career, she was one of the most well paid actresses in Hollywood.

Henie was married three times, and in between those, she was known for her love affairs. The newspapers and gossip magazines must have loved her.

Unfortunately she was diagnosed with leukemia in the mid- 1960s. She died of the disease in 1969.

If you want to know more about this fairytale lady, check out this link.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonja_Henie

I don’t know anything about art. I’m not even going to pretend that I do. But if you like that sort of thing, the center is well worth seeing. If not, I’d recommend a stroll around the peaceful area. Who knows, maybe you even get too meet Queen Sonja out there. She is known for frequenting the place.

Further down you will also find some videos from the area. Enjoy!

The old phone booths have become art?!