Ross Kolby

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Ross Kolby (born 7th November 1970) is a Norwegian artist, actor and author. He is known for his controversial artworks including the painting, The Murder of Pope John Paul I as well as his portraits of King Harald, King Olav V and King Haakon VII.

Education

Ross Kolby is educated at Asker Kunstskole outside of Oslo (1991-1992), Oslo National Academy of the Arts (1992–1998) and at Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome, (1994-1995). He was based in Copenhagen from 1999–2004 where he painted and wrote his first published novel at Cappelen Damm and has since 2004 lived and worked in Oslo.

The artist

Kolby has held several solo exhibitions both in Norway and Denmark and has participated at a number of group exhibitions in these countries as well as Sweden, Poland and Lithuania.

Kolby is known for having painted a series of controversial works and received death threats when he was about to exhibit his large historic painting The Murder of Pope John Paul I in 1997. He withdrew the painting from the exhibition as a result of the threats but exhibited it the year after when the Oslo Police revealed a group of Catholics who admitted to have put forward the death threats.

Kolby also works extensively with portraits and has painted the Norwegian actor legend Per Aabel, former UN High Commissioneer for Refugees Thorvald Stoltenberg, star pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, WWII legendary Allied freedomfighter Gunnar Sonsteby, WWII Allied agent and shipowner Erling Lorentzen, WWII merchant sailor Ingvald Wahl og WWII Spitfire pilot legend Wilhelm Mohr. He was also commissioned to paint the portrait of Dame Vera Lynn by the London Mint Office and it was slated to be exhibited at the Royal Albert Hall in 2019.

Kolby was commissioned by Samlerhuset to portray Norway's three generations of monarchs in 2015 in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Norwegian liberation from Nazi occupation during WWII. The three monarchs - King Harald V, King Olav V and King Haakon VII - were all connected to the events of the war. He painted the triple portrait with the title "The Kings of the Liberation". Though being three generations Kolby decided to paint the three kings all at the same age - 78 years old - which was the age of King Harald V when he sat model for Kolby.

These portraits, however, were harshly disparaged by art critics in the media [1] while the audience streamed to Norway's Resistance Museum in Oslo where the paintings are at permanent display today.[2]

The documentary film "The Kings of the Liberation" [3] that was made to the unveiling ceremony of the portraits places the paintings into an historical context with the Royal Family and their contribution to morale and the fight for freedom during WWII.

In connection with the 25th years jubileum for the consecration of Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja in 1991 Kolby in 2016 was commissioned to artistically mark the consecration day. [4] The artwork was donated by Samlerhuset to be hung on permanent display in the Crown Regalia Museum in the Archbishop's Hall in Trondheim. Kolby executed the canvas "Consecration Morning" filled with symbols where he by painting the King's and Queen's crowns portrays Their Majesties, the consecration itself as well as the newer Norwegian history.

The painting is the first to present the crowns of the Norwegian King an Queen as the main motif and was unveiled in a solemn ceremony by the altar in the Nidarosdomen Cathedral as a final ceremony in the year of the consecration jubileum.

I 2017 Kolby was commissioned to paint a portrait to the Armed Forces' Museum in Oslo to commemorate the Allied war sailors' contribution in the convoys supplying England, Russia and Europe with military materiell. [5] He choosed to portray the 98 year old Norwegian war sailor Ingvald Wahl and the work was unveiled with Mr. Wahl present. Prints of the painting were in 2019 donated to the Ambassadors of "The Convoy Countries"; USA, Russia, China, India, Denmark and Sweden in a solemn ceremony at the Royal Norwegian Yacht Club.

In the winter of 2019 British media reported that Kolby was portraying Dame Vera Lynn to Royal Albert Hall in London [6] Dame Vera came to be the heart of a nation and a uniting figure worldwide during WWII through her BBC broadcasted programme "Sincerely Yours" and her thousands of concerts and tours in Africa, India and Burma. Her unique voice and personality inspired millions, soldiers and civilians alike.

Her songs such as We'll Meet Again and "The White Cliffs of Dover" have for many came to be the very theme of WWII. Dame Vera appears on Pink Floyd's iconic album The Wall as Roger Waters sings about her in "Vera/Bring the boys back home".

Kolby met with the soon 102 year old legend in her home in Ditchling and made a study for the portrait. It will be gifted from London Mint Office to the Royal Albert Hall where she has performed 52 times. The painting will be unveiled in the autumn of 2019 and hung on permanent display at the venue.

The author

In 2001 Kolby debuted as an author with the fantasy novel "Will O'Phillie and the story of Lord Falconbridge" [7] on Cappelen Damm [8]. In 2008 he had published the historic novel "Flames" about the witch processes in Northern Norway in the 1600's on Kagge Forlag [9]. Kolby has also written a filmscript in English on the story.

In 2009 he had published the documentary book "Ghostwalking - Haunted places in Norway" together with Kristin Amundsen on Kagge Forlag [10].

The actor

As an actor Kolby is part of the theater ensemble Baerum Teaterselskap where he has played lead characters and smaller parts. He also contributes in films and TV productions.

In the spring of 2019 he will premiere his wandering theater production "Destinies of War" being played on the old Royal Fortress Akershus in Oslo. Through seven destinies Kolby brings to life the times of Nazi occupation in 1940 throughout to the return of the Royal Family in 1945, telling about the dramatic events on the spot where they took place accompanied by film music and sound effects.

Film, TV and theater

Year	Title	Part	Genre	Prod. company	Director
2018	Wait until last year	Edvard Falk	short	Noroff	Lasse Pedersen
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References

This article "Ross Kolby" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Ross Kolby. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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