Ari Behn, Danish-Norwegian author and playwright
Ari Mikael Behn (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈɑ̀ːrɪ ˈbeːn]; né Bjørshol, pronounced [ˈbjø̀ːʂhuːl] or [ˈbjø̀ːʁshuːl]; 30 September 1972 – 25 December 2019) was a Norwegian author, playwright, and visual artist.
Known as Mikael Bjørshol until 1996, Behn achieved early literary success with his 1999 short story collection Trist som faen ("Sad as hell"), which sold about 100,000 copies. Following his marriage, he wrote four novels, two short story collections, one play and a book about his wedding, and took part in other creative and artistic endeavours such as the design of a china set named "Peacock". In the 2000s and 2010s his public activity and art were met with mixed reactions in Norway, and Behn acknowledged that many people regarded him as a "fool". From 2013 until his death he was active as a visual artist, painting in a neo-expressionist tradition inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat. Behn's artwork, described as "highly narrative", was widely exhibited internationally in 2017–18.From 2002 to 2017 he was married to Princess Märtha Louise, the elder child of King Harald V. Behn held no title or special status during the marriage, and remained a private citizen.