Olga Wagner facts for kids

Olga Rosalie Aloisa Wagner (1873–1963) was a talented Danish artist. She was both a painter and a sculptor. Olga first studied painting at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Later, her husband, Siegfried Wagner, taught her how to sculpt. They worked together for many years. Olga became known for her big sculptures made of stone and bronze. She also made smaller, beautiful pieces from porcelain. She created these while working with famous companies like Bing & Grøndahl and the Royal Danish Porcelain Factory.

About Olga Wagner's Life and Art

Early Life and Artistic Training

Olga Rosalie Aloisa Packness was born in Lyngby, Denmark, on May 24, 1873. Her father was a merchant named Carl Henrik Laurits Liisberg Packness. Her mother was Marie Amalie Martin. Olga studied painting at the Royal Danish Academy. She was part of the women's section there. She finished her studies in 1898.

The next year, in 1899, she married Siegfried Wagner. He was also an artist and a sculptor. This marriage started a lifelong journey of art for Olga. She quickly became very good at sculpting. Her husband helped guide her artistic growth.

Working with Siegfried Wagner

Siegfried Wagner worked at a company called Bing & Grøndahl. This company made beautiful porcelain items. Both Olga and Siegfried were influenced by the unique style of Jens Ferdinand Willumsen, who also worked there. The couple shared ideas from a worldwide youth art movement. Olga's artistic ideas were also shaped by her mother's home country, Austria.

Olga Wagner's Artworks and Style

Olga Wagner first showed her art in 1901. This was at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition. After that, she displayed her works at Den Frie Udstilling, another art show. She was inspired by new art trends from other countries. She used many different materials for her sculptures. These included stone, wood, and bronze.

She made large artworks that often fit with buildings or nature. Olga also created ceramic pieces for Royal Copenhagen and Bing & Grøndahl. Some of her well-known large sculptures include:

• Barnefigur (Figure of a Child, 1911) made of marble.
• Frejr på Galten (1924) made of limestone.

Public Sculptures and Exhibitions

In 1922, Olga's sculpture called Naturen, der bærer handelen was placed in Klosterpassagen in Copenhagen. In 1945, a bronze copy of her sculpture Tankefuld kvinde (Thoughtful Woman) was put up. You can find it inside the main entrance of Sorgenfri Cemetery.

Another important work was her plaster model from 1936. This model was for a bronze statue of the zoologist Peter Wilhelm Lund. A zoologist is someone who studies animals. The full statue was never made because there wasn't enough money. But the model is now on display. You can see it at Copenhagen's Zoological Museum.

In 2006, the Vejen Art Museum held a special exhibition. It showed artworks by both Olga and Siegfried Wagner. This included sculptures, furniture, ceramics, silver, and wooden items.

Olga Wagner passed away in Lyngby on May 24, 1963. She is buried in Sorgenfri Cemetery.