She was born in New York City as a daughter of diplomat Ditlef Knudsen (1911–1981) and Anna Sophie Broch (1918–2000), and grew up in several countries where her father was stationed; Canada, Turkey, Thailand and Chile.
[1][2] She is a graduate of the National Academy of Craft and Art Industry, the National Academy of Fine Arts and the teachers' college Statens yrkespedagogiske høyskole.
[3] From 1996 to 2007 she was the rector of Einar Granum Kunstfagskole, a preparatory art school.
[2][4][5][6] During her tenure as rector, the institution became fully co-located in the former Christiania Seildugsfabrikk.
Quarrels between Knudsen and Nerdrum have surfaced and reached national media on several occasions.