Håkon Stenstadvold (2 August 1912 – 7 October 1977) was a Norwegian painter, illustrator, journalist, art critic and politician for the Conservative Party.
He was born in Sarpsborg as a son of Christen Stenstadvold (1873–1952) and his wife Alfhild Pedersen (1887–1960). He was a brother of Karl Stenstadvold,[1] and lived in Sandvika.[2] He married Ingeborg Anvik in January 1943, and is the father of businessperson and politician Halvor Stenstadvold.[1]
He studied at the Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts from 1931 to 1934 and at Academie Scandinave, Paris from 1934 to 1935.[2] He later conducted several study trips in Italy and France in 1938 (studying under Marcel Gromaire and Pierre Dubreuil), 1948, 1951 and 1955 to 1956.[1] Stenstadvold was represented at the National Autumn Exhibition of 1934,[2] and held his first own exhibit in 1938. He painted in the figurative style. The pinnacle work of his career was the illustrations of the book trilogy Kristin Lavransdatter.[1] He is also represented with works in the National Museum of Stockholm.[2]
Stenstadvold issued several books, and was a journalist in Bo-Nytt from 1942 to 1969 and an art critic in Aftenposten from 1946 to 1953. He was also member of Bærum municipal council from 1956 to 1959.[2] From 1964 to 1977 he was the rector of the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry.[1]
Stenstadvold was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1969. He died in October 1977 in Bærum.[1] A square in Sandvika, Håkon Stenstadvolds plass, has been named for him.[3]