Born in Oster Vra, Poul Kjaerholm studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen, where he taught from 1952 to 1956. From 1955 to 1976, he also taught at the Royal Danish Academy of Arts, Copenhagen. He has worked independently, designing for, among others, Fritz Hansen and E. Kold Christensen. He was awarded a Grand Prix at both the 1957 and 1960 Milan Triennales and a Lunning Prize in 1958.