Programme of the week
Paperboy, 1927, Kristján H. Magnússon 1903-1937, LÍ-1166
Event – 13 August 2025 – National Gallery of Iceland
Quality Time
Kristján H. Magnússon – Revisited
We warmly welcome you to a Quality Time at the National Gallery of Iceland on Fríkirkjuvegur, Wednesday, August 13 at 2 PM. On this occasion, Dagný Heiðdal will guide guests through the exhibition Kristján H. Magnússon – A Retrospective.
Kristján Helgi’s paintings caused a great stir when he burst onto the Icelandic art scene nearly 100 years ago. He held exhibitions in major cities on both sides of the Atlantic, where he received glowing reviews for his landscapes, portraits, and still lifes. In Iceland, however, his works met with mixed receptions, are little known today, and Kristján Helgi is seldom mentioned in discussions of Icelandic art. Nevertheless, his contribution to art history is considerable and intriguing for many reasons.
Quality Time are events specially designed for people in their prime years. They consist of tailored guided tours and conversations with the Gallery’s specialists about art, current exhibitions, and the museum’s work.
Coffee is always served at Quality Time at the National Gallery of Iceland.
Museum admission applies.
More: Quality Time | National Gallery of Iceland
Facebook: (20+) Gæðastundir – Kristján H. Magnússon – Endurlit | Facebook
Event: August 23 – National Gallery of Iceland and House of Collections
Culture Night 2025📯
Save The Date!
Join us on Culture Night for a day of art at the National Gallery of Iceland and the House of Collections on Hverfisgata. Both buildings will be open from morning until evening, and admission is free throughout the day.
Take the opportunity to explore our exhibitions and discover the programme of events listed below.
More: Culture Night 2025 | National Gallery of Iceland
Facebook: (20+) Menningarnótt / Culture Night 2025 🎊 | Facebook
National Gallery of Iceland Museum Shop 2025
Unique Gifts at the National Gallery of Iceland Museum Shop
The National Gallery of Iceland’s museum shop is filled with high-quality, thoughtfully curated gift items. A wide selection is available in the online store, including books, greeting cards, jewelry, posters, and more.
Among the treasures in the shop are the Anomali notebooks — the latest addition to our selection. Available in four designs, these notebooks come with either lined or blank pages, making them perfect for capturing all your valuable ideas and thoughts.
Buy it here: The National Gallery Anomali Notebook | Listasafn Íslands
Browse the webstore here: The National Gallery of Iceland Museum Store
Autumn 2025 Courses
Sjónarafl
On-site and Online Courses for Teachers at the House of Collections.
This autumn, we are once again offering our popular Sjónarafl courses — training in visual literacy methods. Three courses will be held during the autumn semester, available both online and on-site.
The course introduces teachers to visual literacy techniques that focus on structured discussion and questioning methods. The training is based on selected works from the collection of the National Gallery of Iceland, with educational materials specifically developed for teachers.
Location: House of Collections, Hverfisgata
Registration: mennt@listasafn.is
Fee: ISK 4,600 – includes the Sjónarafl book
Attn. The courses are held in Icelandic
More: Námskeið fyrir kennara | Listasafn Íslands
Facebook: (20+) Sjónarafl: Námskeið fyrir kennara | Facebook
Sjónarafl, the book: Sjónarafl þjálfun í myndlæsi | Listasafn Íslands
Autumn 2025 Courses
Ísabrot
New Course for Teachers
The year 2025 has been designated the Year of the Glacier. To mark the occasion, two courses will be offered during the autumn semester for teachers. The course will focus on the educational material Ísabrot – Glaciers in Icelandic Art, published by the museum at the end of last year.
The material presents selected works from the collection of the National Gallery of Iceland, accompanied by an accessible text on glaciers by Nína Aradóttir and an article on contemporary challenges and sustainability education by Ásthildur Jónsdóttir.
It also includes practical descriptions of art workshops developed in collaboration with practicing artists. As part of the course, participants will have the opportunity to carry out one of these workshops.
Location: House of Collections, Hverfisgata
Registration: mennt@listasafn.is
Fee: ISK 5,000 – includes the Ísabrot book and all workshop materials provided on-site
Attn. The courses are held in Icelandic
More: Námskeið fyrir kennara | Listasafn Íslands
August 20th: (20+) Ár jökulsins! Námskeið fyrir kennara í Safnahúsinu | Facebook
September 10th: (20+) Ár jökulsins: Námskeið fyrir kennara í Safnahúsinu | Facebook
Ísabrot, the book: Ísabrot - Jöklar í íslenskri myndlist | Listasafn Íslands
Courses 2025 – National Gallery of Iceland
Art Courses – Autumn 2025
For children aged 10–12 🎨
An art course focusing on drawing and painting techniques. The works of art on display at the museum will serve as inspiration for creative projects, giving children a unique opportunity to experience and explore art in the museum setting.
The course will place special emphasis on drawing, alongside work with paint, with a strong focus on colour theory. Participants will explore the effects of colour and how it can be used together with drawing to create depth and visual impact. They will gain tools to express what lives in their minds and hearts.
Three-dimensional forms in art will also be explored, experimenting with shapes and abstract forms, as well as positive and negative space in that context. At the end of the course, an exhibition will be held showcasing the children’s work, with the young artists themselves taking part in the exhibition-making process.
We recommend that children wear clothes suitable for painting, splashing, and fun! The course is fully accessible.
Course I
1 September – 24 November 2025
Mondays, 15:00–16:30
Course II
3 September – 26 November 2025
Wednesdays, 15:00–16:30
Instructor: Helena Reynisdóttir, artist
More Information: Námskeið fyrir börn | Listasafn Íslands
Registration:
Course I: Myndlistarnámskeið í Listasafni Íslands haust 2025 (10 - 12 ára) | Frirvk Listasafn Íslands | Námskeið | Abler
Course II: Myndlistarnámskeið í Listasafni Íslands haust 2025 (10 - 12 ára) | Frirvk Listasafn Íslands | Námskeið | Abler
Courses 2025 – National Gallery of Iceland
Art Courses – Autumn 2025
For children aged 7–9 🎨
The National Gallery of Iceland offers a creative and inspiring art course for children in its new art studio at the museum on Fríkirkjuvegur 7. The course will draw inspiration from the museum’s exhibitions, where the artworks will be explored and used as a starting point for training the participants’ sense of colour and form. Children will have the opportunity to work with a variety of materials and techniques, including painting, printmaking, and sculpture.
The aim of the course is to encourage children to approach art with greater confidence and curiosity, with teaching that combines experience, discussion, and hands-on creation. At the end of the course, an exhibition will be held for friends and family, showcasing the children’s work.
Course I
2 September – 25 November 2025
Tuesdays, 15:00–16:30
Course II
4 September – 27 November 2025
Thursdays, 15:00–16:30
Instructor: Marta María Jónsdóttir, artist and specialist at the National Gallery of Iceland
More Information: Námskeið fyrir börn | Listasafn Íslands
Registration:
Course I: Myndlistarnámskeið í Listasafni Íslands haust 2025 (7-9 ára) | Frirvk Listasafn Íslands | Námskeið | Abler
Course II: Myndlistarnámskeið í Listasafni Íslands haust 2025 (7-9 ára) | Frirvk Listasafn Íslands | Námskeið | Abler
Revealing Deception – On Fakes and Forgeries
Copies of works of art, and forgeries of various kinds, have been known from ancient times, and cases of art fraud still come up around the world, and the stakes can be high.
The course is based on historical facts as well as real-life examples from the collection of the National Gallery of Iceland, where the museum’s experts share their knowledge with participants to greatly deepen their understanding of the course topic.
Attn. The course are held in Icelandic
More: Courses for adults at the National Gallery of Iceland | National Gallery of Iceland
Registration: Afhjúpun blekkingar – haustnámskeið í Listasafni Íslands | Frirvk Listasafn Íslands | Námskeið | Abler
Courses 2025 – National Gallery of Iceland
The World of Art
This course offers an insight into the diverse world of visual art and how it weaves into society through museums, education, research, and other media. Participants will learn about the work of art museums, perception, and different approaches to engaging with art.
Special emphasis will be placed on visual literacy — a discussion- and question-based method that helps participants read and interpret artworks. Works from the museum’s current exhibitions will be examined, and the course will draw on the National Gallery of Iceland’s educational materials, including Sjónarafl.
The course is built on active participation and discussion about art and is suitable for anyone interested in art and art history.
Location: National Gallery of Iceland
Dates and times:
- Thursday, 4 September, 17:15–19:00
- Thursday, 11 September, 17:15–19:00
Instructors: Dorothée Maria Kirch and Ragnheiður Vignisdóttir
Attn. The course are held in Icelandic
Information: Courses for adults at the National Gallery of Iceland | National Gallery of Iceland
Registration: Myndlistarheimurinn | Frirvk Listasafn Íslands | Námskeið | Abler
Fin-de-Siècle Women
The nineteenth century was a time of vigour and growth in Icelandic society. The turn of the century marks a turning point in Icelandic art history, where women played a significant role. These so-called “hidden women” in Icelandic art have in recent decades sparked growing interest and their work has been brought into the spotlight through exhibitions and publications. Born in the late 19th century, they belonged to Iceland’s emerging middle class and were educated in the visual arts, not to become professional artists, but rather to cultivate refined taste and a sense of beauty to enrich their homes and families.
This course introduces key female pioneers in Icelandic art from the late 1800s, examines their works, and explores the societal context and art scene in Reykjavík during that time.
Instructor: Dagný Heiðdal
The course is suitable for anyone interested in art and history.
This course is held in Icelandic.Information
Information: Courses for adults at the National Gallery of Iceland | National Gallery of Iceland
Registration: Aldamótakonur og íslensk listvakning | Frirvk Listasafn Íslands | Námskeið | Abler
Courses 2025 – National Gallery of Iceland
Steina – Playback
A collaboration between the National Gallery of Iceland, Reykjavík Art Museum, and Iceland University of the Arts
This course is intended for those who wish to deepen their understanding of time-based media — art forms that unfold over time, such as film, video, sound, and digital technologies and platforms.
Key concepts and the development of time-based media will be explored, along with works by contemporary artists. The exhibition Steina: Time Travel, currently on view at the National Gallery of Iceland and Reykjavík Art Museum, will be a focal point. The course will also examine the career and work of Steina Vasulka, a pioneer in the field of video art.
Schedule:
- Thursday, 13 November, 17:15–19:00
- Thursday, 20 November, 17:15–19:00
- Thursday, 27 November, 17:15–19:00
(Exact location to be announced.)
The course will be conducted in Icelandic and English.
Instructors: Pari Stave (National Gallery of Iceland), Markús Þór Andrésson (Reykjavík Art Museum), and Margrét Elísabet Ólafsdóttir (Iceland University of the Arts)
Registration: Steina - Tímaflakk | Frirvk Listasafn Íslands | Námskeið | Abler