Arne Haugen Sørensen

Arne Haugen Sørensen (; born 27 April 1932) is a Danish painter and illustrator. Since the 1980s, he has become one of Denmark's most productive religious artists, decorating over 25 churches.

Early life and training Sørensen was born in Copenhagen.

Sørensen had little training in art apart from evening courses in drawing and, after he arrived in Paris in 1950, brief introductions to etching and lithography in the schools run by Stanley William Hayter and Johnny Friedlander.

Career In 1953, Sørensen had his debut exhibition at Kunsterners efterårsudstilling. Thereafter, he regularly exhibited at the Charlottenborg autumn exhibition and Grønningen from 1967. He also exhibited frequently in Paris, beginning with the 9e Salon de la Jeune Peinture in 1958.

A long stay in Mallorca in 1962-63 enhanced his painting, and he was inspired by bright light, colour and the underwater world he experienced as a diver. His work also benefited from his encounters with Asger Jorn, Echaurren Matta and Antonio Saura whom he met at the Clot et George workshop run by Peter Bramsen.

Now in his 90s, Sørensen is still an active artist.

Awards In 1975, Haugen Sørensen was awarded the Eckersberg Medal and, in 1984, the Thorvaldsen Medal.

Personal life Since 1981, Haugen Sørensen has lived with his wife, the ceramist Dorthe Krabbe, near Malaga in Spain.