Carl Fagerberg

Swedish sculptor Carl Fagerberg won Honorable Mention for his sculpture Skater at the 1932 Olympics in the category Mixed Sculpturing and Statues. After completing a carpenter’s apprenticeship, he was a student of the Technical University and the Stockholm Art Academy. In 1906, he went to France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, and Tunis, supported by a Jenny Lind Scholarship. In 1908, Fagerberg set up a studio in Stockholm but spent most of his life in Sundbyberg. He was known for his animal sculptures, but also worked as a painter, and created several important works of religious art. As a sculptor, Fagerberg mainly worked with granite, bronze and porcelain, and also designed medallions and medals. The Russian tsar commissioned him with the stucco for the St. Petersburg train station in 1907.

Since 1937 two of Fagerberg’s sculptures (Shot putter and Relay Runners) can be found around the Stockholm Olympic Stadium. He received the order for these life-size sculptures in 1931. However, there was also public opposition to his sculptures at the time. A third commissioned sculpture, the Javelin thrower, was eventually placed elsewhere. The Orienteer could not be identified. It is interesting in this context that Fagerberg took part in the first orienteering races in Sweden as a youth. His Skater (Skridskoåkaren) is featured in the 1932 art catalog. The bronze sculpture is 50 cm high and 60 cm long and is dated “April 1932”. His model was the Norwegian speed skater Ivar Ballangrud.