[1] Kihle studied at the Statens håndverks- og kunstindustriskole from 1926 to 1929, and later with Henrik Sørensen, Axel Revold, Per Krohg and Marcel Gromaire.

[1] He was fascinated by the nature and folk culture of Telemark, arts, crafts, songs and music, and the farmers' way of life.

[1] The horse became a key motif for Kihle, and in his pictures he stuck to the ancient Telemark before the introduction of tractors and electric power lines.

[1] He spent many summers in Hjartdal, Flatdal, Dyrlandsdalen, Svartdal, Arabygdi, and in his later years in the rural village Smørklepp in Vinje, below the mountain Ormeggene.

Among his book illustrations are woodcuts for Vinje's Storegut, Tarjei Vesaas' novel Det store spelet (The great game), and Jørund Telnes' song collection Guro Heddelid.