Vebjørn Sand
Vebjørn Sand (born in Bærum in 1966), also called Vebjørn August Sand, is a Norwegian painter, printmaker and creator of art projects. Landscapes, portraits and historical scenes are central to his work.
Training and classical figuration
He studied at Statens Kunstakademi in Oslo, the art academy in Prague and the Art Students League in New York. His training includes guidance from Walther Aas and Rolf Schønfeldt.
His visual language combines precise figure drawing with changing light and painterly colour. The Renaissance, Baroque and Anders Zorn are relevant references. Historical subjects should nevertheless be described as artistic interpretations, rather than contemporary photographic records.
Specific paintings and portraits
The Gundersen Collection lists Self-Portrait from 2009 as oil on panel, 84 × 63 cm. On the Roof of the Carmelite Convent from 2017 is mixed media on panel, 61.5 × 71.5 cm. These works show why materials must be specified for each picture, even when the artist's name is the same.
The University of Oslo dates Sand's portrait of medical professor and rector Ole Petter Ottersen to 2017. Ottersen led the university from 2009 to 2017, and the painting forms part of the collection's rector portraits.
From Trollslottet to Keplerstjernen
At Frognerseteren, Trollslottet was created with John-Kristian Alsaker in 1997. At the turn of the millennium came Keplerstjernen, also called Fredsstjernen, near Gardermoen. The geometric structure combines steel, glass and light. These projects extend his practice into landscape and scale beyond the picture frame.
The Leonardo Bridge as structure and subject
The Leonardo Bridge in Ås was built in 2001 on Sand's initiative, drawing on Leonardo da Vinci's sketches from 1502. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration describes its collaboration with Sand and architect Knut Selberg. The modern structure is not a surviving Renaissance bridge.
Ås Municipality's art register also lists Leonardo Bridge from 2001 as a lithograph. An accompanying certificate is numbered 14/150. That certificate number should not be transferred uncritically to another sheet and does not document a common edition size for all Sand's prints.
Roseslottet and historical interpretation
Roseslottet in Oslo opened in 2020 and was created by Vebjørn and Eimund Sand. Five large golden sails refer to the five war years. The project addresses occupation, democracy, the rule of law and humanism, starting from individual people's choices.
On 1 June 2026, Litteraturhuset Fredrikstad listed Sand for an interview and lecture on Roseslottet. This programme entry concerns a past event.
Paintings, prints and reproductions
A painting, a lithograph and a photographic reproduction of the same subject must be distinguished. An illustration of Roseslottet is likewise not part of the installation. Examine paper, printing technique, signature, numbering and any publisher information before describing an item.
Check exactly what a certificate refers to, and retain photographs of both the document and the object's reverse. Assess condition, previous treatment and framing. The surname Sand or a similar signature is insufficient for identification; a specific item requires its own supporting details and ownership history.
Read more about lithography, artist signatures, provenance and ownership history.
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Contact OBA about selling and assessment (Norwegian page).
Sources and further reading
- Store norske leksikon: Vebjørn Sand
- Litteraturhuset Fredrikstad: Vebjørn Sand
- The Gundersen Collection: Vebjørn Sand
- University of Oslo: rector portraits
- Norwegian Public Roads Administration: Leonardo Bridge
- Ås Municipality: Leonardo Bridge, lithograph
- Roseslottet Foundation: about the project
- Oslo City Encyclopedia: Roseslottet and Trollslottet
- Ullensaker Municipality: Fredsstjernen
- Eiendomsspar: Keplerstjernen
