The war had come to an end, and Dr. Nygaard's work load was normalised.  He had built a well-reputed practice.  Many well-known and influential persons sought him, some very wealthy, giving his work a good pay-off.

On several occasion a reciprocal friendship that was to last the whole lifetime developed between doctor and patient, among these were Trygve Lie and Carl J. Hambro.  Through their common interest in history Hambro and Nygaard became close friends.  Gidsken and Herman Wildenwey also established strong bonds of friendship to Nygaard.

With time Kaare K. Nygaard had the time and the opportunity to develop his artistic talents.  He had, at 15, made a sculpture of his grandfather, and again started modelling after the war.  It gave him a lot of satisfaction.  In his profession he had developed strong fingers and a knowledge of the human body.  Mainly, weekends gave him the possibility to sculpt, he could work hours in his studio/garage.  He found inspiration in museums, exhibitions and books.  He had the opportunity to do what he loved best - heal and create.

After 15 years of goal-oriented work, in 1968 he signed up for an international art competition for medical doctors.  Much to his own surprise and delight, his sculpture "The Surgeon" won the first prize.  This provided the courage needed to open his first separate exhibit in 1969.  Both the public and the critics gave him good reviews.  Several later exhibits were to follow in the USA, and Nygaard became famous not as a surgeon alone, but also as an able sculptor.  His sculptures were exhibited in Norway, Lillehammer and Oslo, but he was not himself to experience this.

Kaare Nygaard did not frequent artists' circles in New York, but nevertheless some of the world's greatest artists were his friends.  Percy Granger, Alexander Calder and Marcel Duchamp were among these.  The most long-lasting friendship was the Australian pianist Percy Granger, a great admirer and interpretor of Edvard Grieg.  As early as 1913, Kaare was rewarded by his mother with an opportunity to attend at a concert with Percy Granger in Lillehammer. The experience made a deep impression on him.
However, their first personal encounter was following a concert in Carnegie Hall in 1941.  This was the start of a 20 year long close and warm friendship.