Crystals

Steinþór Sigurðsson made his debut when abstract art had become established in Iceland, and he followed that path for many years. Powerful oils and captivating watercolours served him well at a period of upheaval on the art scene, as witness Strigi og flauel (Canvas and Velvet), a documentary about him made in 2013 by Anna Þóra Steinþórsdóttir. He studied at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts, and then in Stockholm and Barcelona 1949–56. He taught for a time at the College of Arts and Crafts. Steinþór was prolific, not least in his work as a set designer for the Reykjavík Theatre Company; he also set up exhibitions for museums, and designed innumerable postage stamps. Steinþór’s painting Kristallar/Crystals is an abstract work, while the chilly blue colour palette gives rise to thoughts of cold winter days and frozen ponds, where one can hear the ice crackling and snow crunching underfoot. The work is characterised by speed and movement, achieved by precise brushwork and a light touch, working from the centre. Steinþór remained faithful to abstract expressionism in his art; he joined forces with the Septem-group after it was re-formed in 1974. Right into the 1980s Steinþór’s work was typified by his lively, spontaneous method that gave rise to fresh, vibrant paintings.