Starfsfólk safnsins leiðir gesti um valin verk og opnar nýjar leiðir inn í listina á skýran og aðgengilegan hátt.  

Nú standa yfir tvær áhugaverðar sýningar á Kjarvalsstöðum: Smáborg, háborg – Reykjavík í mynd í Vestursal og Kjarval og 20. öldin: Þegar nútíminn lagði að í Austursal.  

Í leiðsögninni fá gestir tækifæri til að staldra við, skoða nánar og dýpka skilning sinn á völdum verkum — stutt, skýrt og hnitmiðað.

Museum staff lead visitors through selected works, opening up new perspectives on the art in a clear and accessible way.

Two exciting exhibitions are on view at Kjarvalsstaðir: Big little City – Reykjavík in View in the West Gallery, and Kjarval and the 20th Century: When Modernity Anchored in the East Gallery.  

During the tours, visitors have the opportunity to pause, look closer, and gain deeper insight into selected works — brief, focused, and enriching.

Daily short guided tours offer a fresh and engaging way to experience the exhibitions at Reykjavík Art Museum.

Mini Tour on Exhibitions | Kjarvalsstaðir

Daglegar stuttar leiðsagnir bjóða upp á ferska og lifandi nálgun að sýningum Listasafns Reykjavíkur.

Örleiðsögn um sýningar | Kjarvalsstaðir

Fræðsla

Leiðsögn

Starfsfólk safnsins leiðir gesti um valin verk og opnar nýjar leiðir inn í listina á skýran og aðgengilegan hátt.  

Nú standa yfir tvær áhugaverðar sýningar í Hafnarhúsi; Karin Sander: 1957–2057 og Erró: Remix, ásamt úrvali af Víðáttum.  

Í leiðsögninni fá gestir tækifæri til að staldra við, skoða nánar og dýpka skilning sinn á lykilverkum sýninganna — stutt, skýrt og hnitmiðað.

Museum staff lead visitors through selected works, opening up new perspectives on the art in a clear and accessible way.  

Two exhibitions are on view at Hafnarhús: Karin Sander 1957–2057 and Erró: Remix - including a selection af Scapes.  

During the tours, visitors have the opportunity to pause, look closer, and gain deeper insight into key pieces — brief, focused, and enriching.

Mini Tour on Exhibitions | Hafnarhús

Örleiðsögn um sýningar | Hafnarhús

Á sýningunni verða ljósmyndir, málverk, höggmyndir og innsetningar eftir þrjátíu listamenn frá Póllandi.

Verkin hafa ferðast frá Kraká til Reykjavíkur, þar sem þau eru sýnd í samfélagi sem að hluta hefur mótast af pólskum áhrifum. Pólverjar eru stærsti hópur innflytjenda á Íslandi og hafa auðgað íslenska menningu og daglegt líf. Sýningin skapar  vettvang fyrir samveru og samtal pólskrar menningar og íslensks samfélags.

Sýningarstjórar: 
Agnieszka Sachar, Aldís Snorradóttir

The exhibition will include photographs, paintings, sculptures, and installations by thirty artists from Poland.

The works have traveled from Kraków to Reykjavík, where they are presented within a community that has been partly shaped by Polish presence. Poles are the largest group of immigrants in Iceland and have enriched Icelandic culture and everyday life. The exhibition  creates a space for encounter between Polish culture and the Icelandic audience.

Curators: 
Agnieszka Sachar, Aldís Snorradóttir

Welcome to the opening of the exhibition featuring exclusively works from the collection of Bunkier Sztuki, which houses one of the strongest collections of Polish contemporary art in Europe.

Opening | Leaky bodies, Shared worlds:  Works from the Bunkier Sztuki Collection in Krakow.

Velkomin á opnun sýningarinnar Lekir líkamar, sameiginilegir heimar sem samanstendur eingöngu af verkum úr safni Bunkier Sztuki, sem hýsir eitt sterkasta safn pólskrar samtímalistar í Evrópu.

Opnun | Lekir líkamar, sameigilegir heimar: Verk úr safni Bunkier Sztuki í Kraká

Sýning

Opnun

Fjölmenning

Við hvetjum gesti til að taka þátt í hátíðlegri kvöldstund í Viðey þar sem Friðarsúlan verður tendruð í tuttugasta sinn. Boðið verður upp á leiðsagnir, listasmiðju, tónlistarflutning og hátíðardagskrá við Friðarsúluna.

Dagskrá

Leiðsagnir og listasmiðja
Upphafsstaður allra leiðsagna er við Viðeyjarstofu og listasmiðjan er í Nausti. 
17:30 
Listasmiðja á vegum Listasafns Reykjavíkur fram að tendruninni. 
17:45
Leiðsögn á vegum Listasafns Reykjavíkur um verk Richard Serra og Yoko Ono.

18:00
Söguganga á vegum Borgarsögusafns Reykjavíkur

18:45
Leiðsögn á vegum Listasafns Reykjavíkur um verk Richard Serra og Yoko Ono.

19:00
Söguganga á vegum Borgarsögusafns Reykjavíkur.

Dagskrá við Friðarsúluna

19:45
Árný Margrét flytur tónlist við Friðarsúluna

19:58
Hildur Björnsdóttir borgarstjóri flytur ávarp

20:00
Friðarsúlan tendruð við lagið Imagine eftir John Lennon og Yoko Ono

Samgöngur

Siglingar frá Skarfabakka - Viðey
Kl. 17.30 – 19.30 
Frítt er í ferjuna, en skráning í báta nauðsynleg hjá Eldingu
20:30–22:00

Strætó Ráðhús að Skarfabakka (30 mín fresti)
Kl. 17.30 – 19.00 

Strætó frá Skarfabakka að Ráðhúsinu (á 30 mínútna fresti)
20:30–21:30

Viðeyjarstofa verður opin frá kl. 17:30 og þar verður hægt að kaupa léttar veitingar. 

Um Friðarsúluna

Friðarsúlan í Viðey er hugarfóstur listarmannsins og friðarsinnans Yoko Ono og er hugsuð sem leiðarljós fyrir heimsfrið.

Verkið er í formi „óskabrunns“ en á hann eru orðin „Hugsa sér frið“ grafin á 24 tungumálum. Upp úr brunninum stígur ljóssúla sem er saman sett úr fimmtán geislum sem sameinast í einu sterku ljósi. Sex ljósgeislanna fara lárétt um göng á palli í kringum brunninn og er endurkastað upp með speglum. Pallurinn er þakinn þrenns konar íslensku grjóti – líparíti, grágrýti og blágrýti.

9. október: frá kl. 20:00 fram á morgun.
10. til 31. október: frá kl. 20:00 til miðnættis.
1. til 30. nóvember: frá kl. 19:00 til miðnættis.
1. til 30. desember: frá kl. 18:00 til miðnættis.
31. desember: frá kl. 18:00 fram á morgun.

Join us for a special evening on Viðey Island as the Imagine Peace Tower is illuminated for the twentieth time. The programme includes guided tours, an art workshop, live music, and a ceremonial gathering at the Imagine Peace Tower

Programme
Guided Tours and Art Workshop

All guided tours begin at Viðey House (Viðeyjarstofa), and the art workshop takes place at The Boathouse (Naust).

5:30 PM
Art workshop hosted by Reykjavík Art Museum, running until the Peace Tower lighting ceremony.

5:45 PM
Guided tour by Reykjavík Art Museum of the artworks of Richard Serra and Yoko Ono.

6:00 PM
Historical walk hosted by Reykjavík City Museum.

6:45 PM
Guided tour by Reykjavík Art Museum of the artworks of Richard Serra and Yoko Ono.

7:00 PM
Historical walk hosted by Reykjavík City Museum.


Imagine Peace Tower Ceremony
7:45 PM
Live musical performance by Árný Margrét

7:58 PM
Address by Hildur Björnsdóttir, Mayor of Reykjavík

8:00 PM
The Imagine Peace Tower is illuminated to Imagine by John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Transportation
Ferry Service: Skarfabakki – Viðey
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
The ferry is free of charge. However, advance registration for ferry departures is required through Elding.
Return Ferry Service: Viðey – Skarfabakki
8:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Shuttle Bus: Reykjavík City Hall – Skarfabakki(every 30 minutes)
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Shuttle Bus: Skarfabakki – Reykjavík City Hall
(every 30 minutes)
8:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Viðeyjarstofa
Viðeyjarstofa will be open from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM, or until the last guest has departed the island. Light refreshments will be available for purchase.

About the Imagine Peace Tower
The Imagine Peace Tower on Viðey Island is the brainchild of artist and peace activist Yoko Ono. It was conceived as a beacon for world peace.
The artwork takes the form of a “wish well”, engraved with the words “Imagine Peace” in 24 languages. From the well rises a column of light composed of fifteen powerful searchlights that merge into a single beam reaching into the sky. Six of the beams travel horizontally through passages beneath the surrounding platform and are reflected upward by mirrors.
The platform is surfaced with three types of Icelandic stone: rhyolite, dolerite, and basalt, creating a work that combines light, landscape, and a message of peace.

Lighting Schedule for the Imagine Peace Tower

October 9: from 8:00 PM until the following morning.
October 10 to 31: from 8:00 PM to midnight.
November 1 to 30: from 7:00 PM to midnight.
December 1 to 30: from 6:00 PM to midnight.
December 31: from 6:00 PM until the following morning.

The Imagine Peace Tower by Yoko Ono will be lit for the twentieth time on Friday, 9 October at 8:00 p.m. in Viðey.

The Viðey Ferry is free of charge, and complimentary shuttle bus service will be available from Reykjavík City Hall.
Registration is required for the event. Please follow the link below to reserve your place.

Lighting of Yoko Ono´s Imagine Peace Tower in Viðey

Kveikt verður á Friðarsúlu Yoko Ono í Viðey í tuttugasta sinn, föstudaginn 9. október klukkan 20.  

Frítt er í Viðeyjarferjuna og fríar strætóferðir frá Ráðhúsi Reykjavíkur.
Skráning er nauðsynleg á viðburðinn, sjá hlekk!

Tendrun Friðarsúlunnar í Viðey

Börn og fjölskyldur

Listin getur opnað á ný sjónarhorn, vakið spurningar og skapað rými fyrir samtal. Við hvetjum ungt fólk til að líta við í Hafnarhúsi, skoða sýningarnar, staldra við og deila upplifun og hugmyndum með öðrum.

Samtal er verkefni sem býður fólki um allt land að koma saman, hlusta hvert á annað og ræða vonir, gildi og hugmyndir um framtíðina. Ungt fólk er þar í lykilhlutverki og leiðir samtalið milli kynslóða. 

Halla Tómasdóttir, forseti Íslands, er hvatamaður og verndari verkefnisins.

Art can open up new perspectives, spark questions, and create space for conversation. We encourage young people to drop by Hafnarhús, explore the exhibitions, take a moment to pause, and share their experiences and ideas with others.

Samtal is an initiative that invites people across Iceland to come together, listen to one another, and discuss their hopes, values, and ideas for the future. Young people play a key role in the project, leading conversations across generations.

Halla Tómasdóttir, President of Iceland, is the initiator and patron of the project.

To mark the Samtal initiative, Reykjavík Art Museum invites young people aged 18–30 to visit the exhibitions at Hafnarhús free of charge on Saturday, 10 October.

Let’s Talk | Hafnarhús

Í tilefni af verkefninu Samtal býður Listasafn Reykjavíkur ungu fólki á aldrinum 18–30 ára frítt inn á sýningar í Hafnarhúsi, laugardaginn 10 október.

Tölum saman | Hafnarhús

Á sýningunni eru eingöngu verk úr safneign Bunkier Sztuki, sem geymir eitt öflugasta safn pólskrar samtímalistar í Evrópu. Sýnd verða ljósmyndaverk, málverk, skúlptúrar og innsetningar eftir þrjátíu listamenn frá Póllandi.

Sýningin dregur fram fjölbreytileika og kraft pólskrar samtímalistar og setur hana í alþjóðlegt samhengi. Verkin hafa ferðast frá Kraká til Reykjavíkur, þar sem þau eru sýnd í samfélagi sem að hluta hefur mótast af pólskri nærveru. 

Með sýningunni gefst einstakt tækifæri til að kynnast fremstu samtímalistamönnum Póllands og styrkja um leið menningarleg tengsl Íslands og Póllands.

Leiðsögnin fer fram á ensku. 

Aðgöngumiði á safnið gildir. Frítt fyrir Árskorts- og Menningarkorthafa og yngri en 18 ára.

The exhibition features works exclusively from the collection of Bunkier Sztuki, home to one of Europe’s leading collections of Polish contemporary art. It includes photography, painting, sculpture, and installations by thirty artists from Poland.

The exhibition highlights the diversity and vitality of Polish contemporary art and places it in an international context. The works have travelled from Kraków to Reykjavík, where they are presented in a society shaped in part by a strong Polish presence.

The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to discover some of Poland’s leading contemporary artists while strengthening cultural ties between Iceland and Poland.

The guided tour will be in English.

Admission with museum ticket. Free for Annual pass- and Culture Card holders, free for visitors under 18.

Marta Antoniak, Michał Zawada and Bartosz Kokosiński will lead a guided tour of their works in the exhibition: Leaky Bodies, Shared Worlds: Works from the Bunkier Sztuki Collection in Kraków, at Reykjavík Art Museum – Hafnarhús on Saturday, 10 October at 14:00.

Artist Talk | Leaky Bodies, Shared Worlds

Marta Antoniak, Michał Zawada og Bartosz Kokosiński verða með leiðsögn um verk sín á sýningunni: Lekir líkamar, sameig­in­legir heimar: Verk úr safni Bunkier Sztuki í Kraká, Hafnarhúsi laugardaginn 10. október kl.  14.00.

Leiðsögn listamanna | Lekir líkamar, sameig­in­legir heimar

Sýningarspjall

Sönglögin sem flutt verða varpa ljósi á borgina, mannlíf hennar og andrúmsloft og gestir upplifa Reykjavík ekki aðeins í myndum heldur einnig í tónum. 

Flytjendur: Nathalía D. Halldórsdóttir mezzósópran, og Kjartan Valdimarsson á harmonikku.

Aðgöngumiði á safnið gildir. Frítt fyrir Árskorts- og Menningarkorthafa og yngri en 18 ára.

The songs featured in the programme offer reflections on Reykjavík, its people, and its atmosphere, inviting visitors to experience the city not only through images but also through music.

Performers: Nathalía D. Halldórsdóttir mezzo-soprano, and Kjartan Valdimarsson, accordion.

Admission with museum ticket. Free for Annual pass- and Culture Card holders, free for visitors under 18.

A musical tour of Big Little City - Reykjavík in View where visitors are guided through the exhibition and experience its themes interpreted through music.

Sunday Guided Tour | Musical Tour of Big Little City - Reykjavík in View

Söngleiðsögn um Smáborg, háborg - Reykjavík í mynd þar sem gengið verður um sýninguna og hún túlkuð í tónum.

Sunnudagsleiðsögn | Söngleiðsögn um Smáborg, háborg - Reykjavík í mynd

Tónleikar

Sjónlýsingin fer fram á degi hvíta stafsins, alþjóðlegum baráttu- og vitundardegi blindra og sjónskertra, sem er haldinn 15. október ár hvert. Tilgangur dagsins er að vekja athygli á hvíta stafnum og hagsmunamálefnum blindra og sjónskertra einstaklinga.  

Lekir líkamar, sameiginlegir heimar er sýning á verkum þrjátíu pólskra samtímalistamanna úr safneign Bunkier Sztuki í Kraká. Á sýningunni eru ljósmyndir, málverk, skúlptúra og innsetningar sem fjalla um líkamann, sjálfsmynd, tengsl og samfélag.  

Verkin voru flest unnin á 21. öld og endurspegla hvernig líf okkar mótast af umhverfi, tækni og samskiptum við aðra. Sýningin varpar ljósi á fjölbreytileika pólskrar samtímalistar og skapar vettvang fyrir samtal milli pólskrar menningar og íslensks samfélags.  

Leiðsöguhundar velkomnir.   

Frítt er á viðburðinn.

The audio-described tour takes place on White Cane Safety Day, the international awareness and advocacy day for blind and visually impaired people, observed annually on 15 October. The day highlights the white cane and raises awareness of issues affecting blind and visually impaired individuals.  

Leaky Bodies, Shared Worlds is an exhibition featuring works by thirty contemporary Polish artists from the collection of Bunkier Sztuki in Kraków. The exhibition includes photographs, paintings, sculptures, and installations exploring the body, identity, relationships, and society.  

Most of the works were created in the 21st century and reflect how our lives are shaped by our surroundings, technology, and interactions with others. The exhibition highlights the diversity of contemporary Polish art and creates a space for dialogue between Polish culture and Icelandic society.  

Guide dogs are welcome.  

Admission is free for the guided tour.

Halla Margrét Jóhannesdóttir will lead an audio-described tour for blind and visually impaired visitors of the exhibition Liquid Bodies, Shared Worlds at Reykjavík Art Museum – Hafnarhús on Thursday, 15 October, at 18:00.

Audio description | Leaky Bodies, Shared Worlds

Halla Margrét Jóhannesdóttir verður með sjónlýsingu fyrir blinda og sjónskerta um sýninguna Lekir líkamar, sameiginlegir heimar, í Hafnarhúsi, fimmtudag 15. október kl. 18.00.

Sjónlýsing | Lekir líkamar, sameiginlegir heimar

Erró safnar, klippir og blandar saman myndefni úr ólíkum áttum og skapar úr því kraftmikil verk þar sem kunnuglegar myndir öðlast nýja merkingu. Í opinni klippismiðju geta þátttakendur prófað svipaðar aðferðir, leikið sér með fundið myndefni og skapað sín eigin verk í frjálsu og skapandi umhverfi. Allt efni verður á staðnum, en þátttakendur mega endilega taka með sér eigið myndefni til að klippa og umbreyta.

Gestir geta komið og farið að vild, dvalið stutt eða lengur og tekið þátt á sínum forsendum, einir, með öðrum eða í samveru ólíkra kynslóða.  

Á öllum barna og fjölskylduviðburðum Listasafns Reykjavíkur er gert ráð fyrir því að börn komi ásamt fullorðnum fjölskyldumeðlimum og njóti samverunnar.  

Frítt inn á söfn Listasafns Reykjavíkur fyrir fullorðna í fylgd barna allt vetrarfríið og fjölbreytt dagskrá í boði fyrir barnafjölskyldur.

Erró collects, cuts, and combines images from a wide range of sources, creating powerful works in which familiar images take on new meanings. In this open collage workshop, participants can experiment with similar techniques, play with found imagery, and create their own works in a free and creative environment. All materials will be provided, but participants are also welcome to bring their own images to cut up and transform.

Visitors are welcome to come and go as they please, stay for a short while or longer, and participate on their own terms, whether individually, with others, or across generations.

At all Reykjavík Art Museum events for children and families, it is expected that children are accompanied by adult family members so everyone can enjoy the experience together.   

Admission to all Reykjavík Art Museum locations is free for adults accompanied by children throughout the autumn break, with a diverse program available for families.

Come and cut, paste, and create in our open collage workshop at Hafnarhús during the autumn break!

Autumn Break in Hafnarhús | Open collage workshop — inspired by the works of Erró

Komið og klippið, límið og skapið í opinni samklippismiðju í Hafnarhúsi í haustfríinu!

Haustfrí í Hafnarhúsi | Opin samklippismiðja – innblásin af verkum Errós

Í austurenda Kjarvalsstaða er Hvammur, barna- og fjölskyldurými þar sem gestir geta komið við, skoðað bækur og látið sköpunargleðina njóta sín. Í haustfríinu verður þar opin hestasmiðja þar sem börn og fjölskyldur geta skapað sína eigin hesta með fjölbreyttum efniviði. Í rýminu eru einnig nokkur listaverk tengd hestum sem geta orðið kveikja að eigin sköpun.

Á Kjarvalsstöðum verður einnig hægt að næla sér í ratleik um sýninguna Kjarval og 21. öldin og halda af stað í skemmtilega könnunarferð um sýninguna.

Gestir geta komið og farið að vild, dvalið stutt eða lengur og tekið þátt á sínum forsendum, einir, með öðrum eða í samveru ólíkra kynslóða.

Á öllum barna- og fjölskylduviðburðum Listasafns Reykjavíkur er gert ráð fyrir því að börn komi ásamt fullorðnum fjölskyldumeðlimum og njóti samverunnar.

Frítt inn á söfn Listasafns Reykjavíkur fyrir fullorðna í fylgd barna allt vetrarfríið og fjölbreytt dagskrá í boði fyrir barnafjölskyldur.

At the east end of Kjarvalsstaðir you’ll find Hvammur, a creative space for children and families where visitors can browse books and enjoy a variety of creative activities. There, children and families can take part in a horse-themed workshop and create their very own horses using a range of materials. The space also features several artworks related to horses, offering inspiration for your own creations.

Visitors can also pick up a scavenger hunt for the exhibition Kjarval and the 21st Century and set off on a fun journey of discovery through the exhibition.

Visitors are welcome to come and go as they please, stay for a short while or longer, and participate on their own terms, whether individually, with others, or across generations.

At all Reykjavík Art Museum events for children and families, it is expected that children are accompanied by adult family members so everyone can enjoy the experience together.   

Admission to all Reykjavík Art Museum locations is free for adults accompanied by children throughout the autumn break, with a diverse program available for families.

Visit Kjarvalsstaðir during the autumn break, explore the art and get creative together in Hvammur!

Autumn Break in Kjarvalsstaðir | Open Horse-Workshop and Scavanger Hunt

Komið í heimsókn á Kjarvalsstaði í haustfríinu, skoðið listina og skapið saman í Hvammi!

Haustfrí á Kjarvalsstöðum | Opin hestasmiðja og ratleikur á Kjarvalsstöðum

Erró

Hafnarhús

The Reykjavik Art Musem houses the most extensive collection of Erró's works and exhibitions from the Erró collection are a regular fixture at the Hafnarhús site of the Reykjavík Art Museum, with the purpose of giving as clear an image as possible of the diverse character of the artist's works.

Erró is one of the few Icelandic artists who has gained a foothold in the international art scene.

This exhibition is a comprehensive overview of the artist's colourful career that has made use of various media in the visual arts. Within it you will find everything from performances, video works, graphics, multiples and collages, to larger works in public spaces and paintings of all scales.

The artist Erró, born Guðmundur Guðmundsson in 1932 in Ólafsvík, West Iceland, was among the most prominent figures of the European avant-garde of the 1960s. In the history of art of that period, his name is associated not only with the renewal of pictorial figuration, due to his invention of narrative collage-paintings, but also with the Happenings movement and experimental cinema. Although his work is often, rightly, attached to artistic groups like Surrealism, Narrative Figuration or Pop art, it cannot be reduced to any one of them.

Erró: Remix - including a selection of Scapes

Anne Elise Thompson

Arthur Wellington Fowles

Auguste Mayer

Daníel Þ. Magnússon

Franz Joseph Lederle

Guðjón Samúelsson

Gunnar H. Guðmundsson

Ingi Hrafn Stefánsson

Jóhanna Ólafsdóttir

Kolbrún Ýr Einarsdóttir

Anna María Bogadóttir

Bára Kristinsdóttir

Berglind Jóna Hlynsdóttir 

Dýrfinna Benita Basalan

Eggert Guðmundsson

Einar Jónsson

Erla Haraldsdóttir Bo Melin

Georg Guðni Hauksson

Guðmundur Ingólfsson

Gunnar Karlsson

Gylfi Gíslason

Halldór Pétursson

Hallgrímur Helgason

Hlynur Helgason

Johan Peter Raadsig

Jón Engilberts

Jón Gunnar Árnason

Jón Helgason

Karin Sander

Katrín H. Ágústsdóttir

Lára Jóhannsdóttir

Linda Ólafsdóttir

Nicholas Pocock

Skarphéðinn Bergþóruson

Kristín Jónsdóttir

Louisa Matthíasdóttir

María Ólafsdóttir

Nína Tryggvadóttir

Ólafur Elíasson

Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir

Sigurður Árni Sigurðsson

Sveinn Þórðarson

Teiknistofan Höfði

Snorri Arinbjarnar

Sigurþór Hallbjörnsson

Steinunn Gunnlaugsdóttir

Studio Granda

Særún Stefánsdóttir

Þrándur Þórarinsson

Valtýr Pétursson

Vigdís Kristjánsdóttir

Þorvaldur Jónsson

Þorvaldur Skúlason

Þórarinn B. Þorláksson

Hrafn Gunnlaugsson

Peter Petersen (Bíó-Petersen)

Loftur Guðmundsson

Ósvaldur Knudsen

Kjartan Ó Bjarnason

Óskar Gíslason

Big Little City, image by Halldór Pétursson

Smáborg háborg forsíðumynd eftir Halldór Pétursson

Kjarvalsstaðir

Through what lens do artists view the city, and which of its features are highlighted in the visual language of different generations? 

What is the image of Reykjavík, past and present? 

We present new contemporary artworks, showcase interesting works from the museum’s collection, and borrow curious objects from other museums and institutions. Here, we see the city evolve from a trading post and fishing village into a multicultural center of culture and tourism, depicted in a lively, fragmented, and ever-changing way. The exhibition raises questions about identity, urban planning, social structure, and cultural self-perception. The tangible is displayed alongside the lyrical, the historical, and the artistic, the personal and the collective.  How does art help us see the familiar in a new light?

Among artists in the exhibition are: Spessi, Nína Tryggvadóttir, Jón Engilberts, Louisa Matthíasdóttir, Ólafur Elíasson, Anna María Bogadóttir, Hlynur Helgason, Bára Kristinsdóttir og Skarphéðinn Bergþóruson.

On the occasion of Reykjavík’s 240th anniversary in 2026, the city’s appearance throughout history is examined in a summer exhibition at Kjarvalsstaðir.
Alongside the exhibition, a rich program of entertainment, events, and educational activities will be offered. The project is developed by the exhibition team of the Reykjavík Art Museum, consisting of Markús Þór Andrésson, Sigurður Trausti Traustason, and Sunna Ástþórsdóttir.

Big Little City – Reykjavík in View

Jóhannes S. Kjarval

These works extend across the period during which the painter Jóhannes S. Kjarval was active. In examining Kjarval's journey, and comparing it to the works of his contemporaries, it is possible to see the various ways art changes and evolves. The prevailing spirit of each era is reflected in differing shifts in style, and the artworks provide insight into the artists' inspirations, their surroundings and circumstances. Initially, a romantic view of nature predominated, but symbolism soon after made its way into the narrative, and the first steps were taken towards breaking away from naturalistic imagery.

In this exhibition, you can see artworks by Icelandic artists that span approximately six decades following the turn of the 20th century. 

Kjarval was born in 1885 and died in 1972. Between these points in time lies a significant period in cultural history and global society. This was a period of profound social transformation, industrialisation, urban development and technological advancement. Icelandic artists traveled abroad for education, returned home with fresh ideas, and were inspired by the currents and movements they encountered in Europe. In this sense, artists truly are not isolated islands in world history, but rather engage with various circumstances, innovations, revolutions and conflicts through their works.

As contemporary values embedded themselves in Icelandic society, the subjects and methods of artists evolved. Traditional artistic boundaries were shattered, and abstraction found its place. The then present era left its mark on Icelandic society, as is evident in the progress and diversity of artists' creative endeavors, and in the lifelong work of Kjarval.

In 1973, a year following Kjarval's death, Kjarvalsstaðir was inaugurated and named in his honor. Kjarval is one of the most beloved artists of the nation and his works have been exhibited here for half a century. Kjarval‘s works and those of other artists in this exhibition come from the collection of Reykjavik Art Museum, with the exception of Kjarval's famous _Mountain Milk_ (_Fjallamjólk_), one of the artist's most renowned pieces, which is currently on loan from ASÍ Art Museum.

Kjarval and the 20th Century: When Modernity Anchored

Ásmundur Sveinsson

Myndhöggvarinn að störfum á vinnustofu sinni.

Ásmundarsafn

Sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson worked in different materials. He carved wood, cut stone, shaped clay, transferred forms to concrete, in addition to working with iron and found materials. Many of his best-known works are enlarged and placed in public space around the city. His works were created in relentless experimentation in the studio where he allowed material, content and space work hand in hand. The sculptures are either figurative or abstract, as Ásmundur went through various periods in his artistic creation. In the exhibition, we go back in time and into Ásmundur's studio. We get a sense of what happened behind the scenes in the artist's search for the appropriate completion for the ideas that emerged.

 In the exhibition, we go back in time and into Ásmundur's studio.

Wonderland was the name of the next farm to the place in Laugardalur where Ásmundur built his studio, the "dome" in Sigtún. He lived here with his family, built and developed unique facilities for artistic creation. The house was partially rebuilt and opened as an art museum and sculpture garden after Ásmundur's death over 40 years ago. Reykjavík Art Museum's aim ever since has been to show his work in all its variety and to provide a platform for a younger generation of artists to show their own work in the context of his heritage.

Ásmundur Sveinsson (1893–1982) was one of the pioneers of Icelandic sculpture. He studied at the Swedish Academy of Arts in Stockholm, spent several years in Paris and travelled through Greece and Italy. Ásmundur always remained loyal to the position that art had a mission for the people and belonged among them. He was called the folk poet in art, and without a doubt, that ideal is rooted in his attitude to life as much as in the sculptural tradition.

Ásmundur Sveinsson: Wonderland

Sara Riel

Halldór Ásgeirsson

Finnur Arnar Arnarson

Ásta Fanney Sigurðardóttir

Amanda Riffo

Unnar Örn J. Auðarson

The exhibition features a variety of works that bear the marks of experimentation and the creativity that took place while the artists worked in the museum. The project was conceived as a living dialogue between artist, space and viewer — and the remains that are now on display are both traces, memories and new interpretations of what was created.

The exhibition Remnants in  Ásmundarsafn museum presents works by six artists who have stayed in the museum's studio in a special project called Wonderland- work in Progress, which was ongoing during fall-winter of 2025-2026. Ssix artists were given the opportunity to work in close connection with the museum's space, the spirit of Ásmundur Sveinsson and its daily activities.

The exhibition features work by:
Unnar Örn, Ásta Fanney Sigurðardóttir, Amanda Riffo, Halldór Ásgeirsson, Sara Riel and Finnur Arnar Arnarsson. 
The remainder highlights diverse perspectives and working methods, but together the works form a vibrant whole that reflects the artists' time in the museum and opens up new ways of perceiving Ásmundarsafn and its surroundings.


Wonderland: Remnants

Wonderland: Open Workshop offers children, families, and all visitors to the museum the opportunity to take part in a creative process that explores form, materials, and ideas in an open and accessible way.
The studio focuses on the working methods of Ásmundur Sveinsson — how he developed his work through experimentation, repetition, and a close dialogue with materials. Emphasis is placed on simple yet varied materials and a hands-on, craft-based approach, where the process itself is valued more highly than the final outcome.

Be warmly welcomed to Wonderland in Ásmundarsafn – an open studio that places emphasis on togetherness and living creativity, inspired by the methods of Ásmundur Sveinsson.

Four workshops will be offered, open on a rotating basis throughout the period. Each workshop explores different pathways in creative practice and introduces varied approaches to working with materials. Visitors are welcome to come and go as they please, stay for a short time or longer, and participate on their own terms—alone, with others, or in intergenerational settings.
Wonderland: Open Workshop is a platform for curiosity, play, and togetherness. It creates a space where ideas emerge through hands-on making, conversation is allowed to flow freely, and artistic creation becomes alive, open, and shaped by the participants themselves.  

Wonderland: Open Workshop is an independent continuation of the project Wonderland: Work in Progress, in which six artists were invited to relocate their studios to Ásmundarsafn for an extended period of time. That project focused on artistic processes and open dialogue between the artist, the artworks, and visitors. In the Open Workshop, this approach is further developed, with a particular emphasis on the participation of children and families.

Welcome to
Reykjavík Art Museum

Exhibitions

Erró: Remix - including a selection of Scapes

Erró: Remix - including a selection of Scapes

Big Little City – Reykjavík in View

Big Little City – Reykjavík in View

Kjarval and the 20th Century: When Modernity Anchored

Kjarval and the 20th Century: When Modernity Anchored

Ásmundur Sveinsson: Wonderland

Ásmundur Sveinsson: Wonderland

Wonderland: Remnants

Wonderland: Remnants

Wonderland: Open workshop

Wonderland: Open workshop

Events

Locations

Ásmundarsafn

Hafnarhús

Kjarvalsstaðir

Welcome to Reykjavík Art Museum

Exhibitions

Erró: Remix - including a selection of Scapes

Erró: Remix - including a selection of Scapes

Big Little City – Reykjavík in View

Big Little City – Reykjavík in View

Kjarval and the 20th Century: When Modernity Anchored

Kjarval and the 20th Century: When Modernity Anchored

Ásmundur Sveinsson: Wonderland

Ásmundur Sveinsson: Wonderland

Wonderland: Remnants

Wonderland: Remnants

Wonderland: Open workshop

Wonderland: Open workshop

Events

Locations

Ásmundarsafn

Hafnarhús

Kjarvalsstaðir

Welcome to
Reykjavík Art Museum