​     Nic Schiøll was a sculptor and visual artist born in 1901 in Kristiania. He graduated in art at Frogner School in 1920 and began the same autumn at the Norwegian School of Crafts and Design. In 1923 he studied at the The Norwegian National Academy of Arts under Wilhelm Rasmussen, and in 1923–1924 he was a student of Antoine Bourdelle in Paris.

     Despite stylistic variations, it can be argued that Schiøll's sculptures are formally predominantly marked by the starting point in the neoclassicism of the interwar period. This includes "Grekeren", Schiøll's first major work, purchased by the National Gallery of Norway in 1927, with its rigorous form and its sensitive, intricate play of displacements in the surface.

     From 1927–1936 Schiøll was associated with Nidaros Cathedral's restoration studio as a sculptor and from 1937 onward he had a studio in his home on Røa in Oslo. In 1931, he won the competition for an interior frieze constructed in 1924–1926 for the Memorial Hall over sunken sailors during the First World War. But his relatively low bronze reliefs, kept strictly within the framework of classical architecture, aroused debate. The artist believed n the interplay between sculpture and surroundings stating, "artistic meaning is created in the best works beyond that of the sculpture or architecture alone". This is evident in the allegorical male statues "Måtehold og Styrke" to the facade of Bergen courthouse, and the monumental St. "Hallvard" at the facade of Oslo City Hall.

     The artist was very productive as a sculptor and made a name for himself with his many public works, such as war memorials, portraits and monuments of individuals, ornamental sculptures and architecture-related works. In addition, he made medals, and decorative works less pretentious than what was common, as well as paintings. Of importance was also his openness to international contemporary sculpture. Through articles and lectures and as an advisor for the purchase of modern sculpture for Freia Park in Oslo, he was among the first to contribute to modern trends in Norway.

     Schiøll himself was among the first Norwegian sculptors to try modernist expressions, such as his abstract reliefs shown in the Artists' Association in Oslo in 1937. Later came the abstract sculpture "Volare", and experiments with new materials such as polyester and wax paintings shown at the Artists' Association exhibition in 1966.

     Nic Schiøll won a number of prizes, including six first prizes in competitions for public sculpture. He was a board member of several artistic juries and committees, including the Permanent Jury from 1930–1933, 1944–1945 and 1958–1960, as well as the Norwegian Sculptors' Association from 1955–1957. For his artistic work, he was awarded the King's Medal of Merit in gold in 1950, and the Nidaros Cathedral Medal in gold in 1969.

     The artist is represented in these public institutions:

• The National Museum of Art and Architecture in Oslo

• The Oslo City Museum

• Trondheim Art Museum

• Drammens Museum

• The Bergen Courthouse

• The Arendal City Center

• Oslo City Hall

• The University of Oslo Cultural History Museum

• Gjøvik church

• Høvåg church

• Larvik and Stavern Hall of Rememberance