- Life Dates Born 1939, Rumania
- Occupation Rosemaling teacher
- Residence at Time of Award Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sunhild Muldbakken
Gold Medal In: Rosemaling, 1984 and Woodworking, 2018
Ribbons
- 1976 White ribbon for a 16″ Telemark-style red and blue plate (rosemaling)
- 1979 White ribbon for a Telemark-style bowl (rosemaling)
- 1980 Blue ribbon for a Telemark-style bowl (rosemaling)
- 1982 White ribbon for a bowl (rosemaling)
- 1983 White ribbon for a porridge container (rosemaling)
- 1984 White ribbon for a large Telemark-style bowl (rosemaling)
- 2010 Red ribbon for an ambar carved in acanthus style (woodworking)
- 2012 Red ribbon for a shelf carved in acanthus style (woodworking)
- 2013 White ribbon for a mangle board carved in acanthus style (woodworking)
- 2015 White ribbon for a box carved in acanthus style (woodworking)
- 2016 White ribbon for a trunk carved in acanthus style (woodworking)
- 2018 Red ribbon for a cabinet carved in acanthus style (woodworking)
Artist Statement
I got interested in rosemaling after visiting Norway in 1968 and started to take lessons in 1971. My husband is from Valdres, Norway, and I have always been interested in art in general. I found rosemaling very pleasing and have always enjoyed painting flowers and scrolls. The teachers that have influenced me the most are Sigmund Aarseth and Nils Ellingsgard. I also have learned a lot from Bergljot Lunde and Alfhild Tangen.
I started to teach rosemaling in 1973 in an evening adult ed class in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I traveled to many small towns in South Dakota teaching rosemaling from 1976 to 1984. These classes were sponsored by the South Dakota Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts. I have since taught throughout the United States.
Rosemaling has been my profession the last 36 years. I do mostly commission work. I have also taught some rosemaling classes at Vesterheim. I am best known for my Telemark style of rosemaling, but I also teach Valdres, Hallingdal, and the Gudbrandsdal styles. I enjoy painting on larger pieces—trunks, bowls, cabinets, and furniture.
2008
Even while I was concentrating on rosemaling, I was very interested in acanthus carving. I find that the graceful flow of the design are present in both art forms. The carving has an additional challenge, as it is three dimensional.
I had the privilege of taking my first and only acanthus carving class from Hans Sandom in 2009. Receiving a red ribbon on my first piece the following summer, started me on my goal of getting my second Gold Medal in The National Norwegian-American Folk Art Exhibition, this time in woodworking.
My husband and I have worked together on making the wooden items that I have carved and painted. I have carved only ten items so far and they will be an inheritance to my family. I still enjoy rosemaling and carving, but I taught my last rosemaling class in 2018 after teaching for 44 years.
2019