Between 1927 and 1933, with some interruptions, Nellemose studied under
Einer Utzon-Frank at the
Danish Academy. After beginning his career as a sports journalist and newspaper illustrator, he turned to sculpture, concentrating on figures of boxers, footballers and athletes, often in motion. Initially influenced by
Kai Nielsen, he soon developed a style of his own, creating figures showing the rhythmic movements of arms and legs. He travelled to Greece and Italy, where he was particularly impressed by
Donatello. However, the lively representations he was able to create through the accentuated shaping of muscles and asymmetrical body positions, are entirely of his own making. Another imposing piece from before the war is his
Avismanden Leitriz (1935), depicting a newspaperman dressed in the clothes he wore when selling newspapers in the streets of Copenhagen. Highly productive in both stone and bronze, Nellemose created the
Marble Church statues of
Søren Kierkegaard (1972) and
Bernhard Severin Ingemann (1988) as well as many groups of footballers. Among his many portraits, some focused on the face, others as half figures, are those of the archaeologist
Peter Vilhelm Glob (1979) and the architect
Steen Eiler Rasmussen (1988). Knud Nellemose's sister,
Karin (1905–1993) was a well-known actress, figuring in many stage productions and films. ==Awards==