[2] Kaarbø attended a boarding school in Celle, Germany, and decided to pursue a career in art.

She studied at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry in Kristiania (now Oslo), and further with Henrik Sørensen and Harriet Backer, and with expressionist Kees van Dongen in Paris.

[3] Between 1920 and 1930 she stayed mainly in Paris where she followed the teaching of several noted artists, including Andre Lhote and Pedro Luiz Correia de Araújo (Brazilian, Paris- and Rio-based, 1874–1955).

[4] During her early years, Kaarbø was influenced by Fauvism, and painted many expressionistic portraits of women.

[1] She participated in several exhibitions, including two works at the Salon d'automne in 1922, and she participated in the Exposition Académie Moderne Exhibition at the Gallery of Art Contemporain in 1926 and the Exposition de l'Académie Moderne Léger Ozenfant in the Gallery Aubier in 1927.