born in copenhagen on 7 february 1943, christensen first studied art at the arts and crafts school (1964–69) before attending the masonry and space art department of the royal danish academy of fine arts (1969–75). after graduating, she became a teaching assistant. in that capacity, she participated in decorating the pedestrian tunnels in albertslund and hjørring. using stoneware as her preferred material, she initially created imaginative compositions but soon began to include human figures and scenes. her work often resembled a notice board with items depicting developments through time and space. her principal accomplishment of the period was her 1978 exhibition in gentofte called min mor og mig (my mother and me) which consisted of 17 ceramic works with text describing the artist's relationship with her sick mother. they depicted the strong personal emotions she experienced as her mother's illness deteriorated in nursing homes until she died. the juxtaposition of reality, memory and dreams brought christensen recognition as one of the most important female artists in denmark.