Participates in the thematic group exhibition Romantic at the Art Association in Oslo.

Installs the large-scale commissioned ceramic frieze Horses and Hoverers at the University of Oslo’s Faculty of Social Science building at Blinder, produced in association with Dagny and Finn Hald. 

Participates in the exhibition This Means Something which tours to Sweden and Denmark. Malmo Museum purchases a painting.

Spends more time in Italy.  

Simplifies his signature to Frans.

Works on the glass commission for the cruise ship, Island Venture with Hadeland Glass Works. 

He is the guest artist at the National Annual Autumn Exhibition at the Artists’ Association in Oslo. 

 

He is awarded the Morgenbladet Art Prize. 

Travels to Italy where he shares studio space at Santa Catarina Chapel with artist Inger Sitter (1929 – 2015) and sculptor Fritz Røed (1928 – 2002), but later buys a converted stable.

Becomes a member of the printmaking jury on the Board of the National Organisation for the Visual Arts from 1973 – 75.

Works with the lithographer Eystein Hanche Olsen (1933 – 1983) in the lithographic workshop at the National College of Art, Craft and Design in Oslo. An artist himself, Olsen shares Widerberg’s enthusiasm for experimenting in the lithographic process, “We experimented and had a wonderful time, it was pure madness. In a few months I made 10 colour lithographs drawn freely from the stone…” 

Last visit to Italy until 1978.

Produces a lithographic poster announcing his Retrospective exhibition of prints at the National Gallery in Oslo, from November to December.

Participates in the exhibition Norwegian Contemporary Painting which opens in Billingham, England.

Produces the painting triptych commissioned for the altarpiece at Volsdalen Church in Ålesund, on the theme of John’s Baptism of Christ, Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem and The Resurrection.  

Participates in the thematic exhibition Tendencies in Norwegian Expressionism after Munch at Gallery F15 in Moss, Norway.