After studying at the educational institution in Härnösand 1900–1904, Frisendahl began art studies in Paris in 1906 at, among others, the Académie Colarossi and studied with Auguste Rodin and Antoine Bourdelle. He worked as an artist in Paris throughout his life, with only a few short breaks in Sweden.

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As a painter, he mainly chose his motifs from the animal world, which he depicted with breadth and fine perception of movement. As a sculptor, he appeared with a series of busts and small sculptures, characterized by spiritual depth, good form and refined surface treatment. Notable among Carl Frisendahl's works are the busts of Pelle Molin in Härnösand (1928–29 and 1936), Karl Otto Bonnier in Stockholm (1930–31) and Sven Wingquist in Gothenburg (1935–36). Carl Frisendahl participated in several exhibitions in Sweden as well as abroad. He is represented at the National Museum, the Natural History Museum, Sundsvall Museum, Gothenburg Art Museum, Malmö Museum, Norrköping Art Museum and with Woman from Anjou in the Moderna Museet and Musee de l´Art Moderne in Paris

 

A large part of his sketches, prototypes and small sculptures but also paintings and large parts of his studio from Paris are preserved at Sundsvall's museum. In Sundsvall there are also several of his works displayed in the central parts, including a Wild Boar in Badhusparken. His art is also at the Musée Nationale de l'Art Moderne in Paris.

The wild boar at the City Library in Malmö. The sculpture is modeled around 1928.