National Gallery of Iceland

Year opened to the public: 1951

Brief history: The National Gallery of Iceland was founded in Copenhagen in 1884, by University student Björn Bjarnarson (1853-1918), who at the time was Assistant to the Royal Bailiff, and later become an MP of the Icelandic Parliament and County Magistrate. After a disruptive beginning of more than half a century, the National Gallery finally opened to the public on the top floor of the National Museum in 1951.

In the beginning of 1988 the National Gallery of Iceland opened in its own building in the heart of Reykjavik, 104 years after its founding. Based on an icehouse from 1916, the museum received a postmodernist extension structure reverberating the old section, which today is preserved as one of the landmarks of the centre of Reykjavik.

Aims and objectives: The National Gallery of Iceland is a principal national museum of art; a centre of research, archives, and presentation of Icelandic art. Its main aim is to purchase the most complete collection of the best and most relevant Icelandic art, catalogue, preserve and exhibit it, both domestically and abroad. The National Gallery of Iceland also assists other Icelandic and international museums with questions concerning its specialist field of Modern and Contemporary Icelandic art.

Number of projects exhibited yearly (total: 7+ (estimate)

Most outstanding projects of the last 3-5 years: Dieter Roth; Cobra Reykjavik; La Durée; Art Against Architecture with participation of Monica Bonvicini, Elín Hansdóttir, Finnbogi Pétursson, Steina Vasulka and Franz West; Love at First Sight; Kristján Daviðsson; Svavar Gudnason; Hrafnkell Sigurdsson; Kristján Guðmundsson; Several Friends; Cindy Sherman; Pétur Thomsen; Ólafur Eliásson.

Aims and objectives: The National Gallery of Iceland maintains a public program in connection with its exhibitions and permanent collection. Guided tours are organized in association with exhibitions and the desire to inform the broad public on new acquisitions.

Distinct areas of programming: Thematic conferences are held, based on exhibitions, with artist talks and public participation, including that of critics, scholars or other specialists.

Number of activities by type per year: 10-15+ annually

Distinct areas of programming: The National Gallery of Iceland receives each day a wide range of pupils and students of primary and secondary level from schools in and around the capital.

Program strands: The National Gallery is about to launch an online access to its collections with a particular emphasis on exhibitions created for online examination for students and public living far away from the museum.

Types of publishing/number per year: 3+ (estimate). A special emphasis has been placed on publishing projects such as exhibition catalogues and a History of Modern and Contemporary Icelandic Art. A collaboration between the National Gallery and the Centre for Icelandic Art saw the publishing of Icelandic Art Today, a lavish book on 50 contemporary artists, published in English by the German publisher Hatje Cantz.

Surface area/capacity: Total internal floor area of 2.563 m², divided in four exhibition rooms, a bookshop, café-restaurant, storage rooms, small educational section and lobbies.

Type: Behind the museum an office building of circa 830 m² was added to the original museum building. Apart from offices, it houses the most complete library of Icelandic art archives, a restoration department and a canteen for the museum personnel.

Managing organization: Valborg Snaevarr, Chairman of Council

Director / CEO: Halldór Björn Runólfsson, Director

Head of Exhibitions / Artistic Director: Sigríður Melrós Ólafsdóttir, Head curator