Programme of the week
Announcement – National Gallery of Iceland 2025
The National Gallery of Iceland and the Einar Jónsson Museum to Merge
Logi Már Einarsson, Minister of Culture, Innovation, and Higher Education, recently announced plans to merge the National Gallery of Iceland and the Einar Jónsson Museum.
"I look forward to taking on this exciting project and to building on the strong foundation established at the Einar Jónsson Museum. I see this merger as a positive and promising step that will strengthen the professional work and reach of both institutions."
– Ingibjörg Jóhannsdóttir, Director of the National Gallery of Iceland
Oracles 14, 1946-1960 Karl Kerúlf Einarsson Dunganon 1897-1972
Event – September 13, 2025 – The House of Collections
Krummi Kids’ Club
Strange Creatures in the Sea
We warmly invite you to join the Krummi Kids’ Club art workshop this Saturday from 2–4 PM at The House of Collections on Hverfisgata.
Together, we’ll explore the fun and colorful artworks of Karl Kerúlf Einarsson–Dunganon, where strange and wonderful creatures come to life. Inspired by these works, we’ll create our own fantastic sea creatures to take home at the end of the workshop.
Free for the whole family!
More here: Krummi Kid's Club | National Gallery of Iceland
Facebook event: (20+) Krakkaklúbburinn Krummi – Skrýtnar skepnur í hafinu | Facebook
Orla Valdemar Borch (earlier attributed to Jóhannes Kjarval), Lumpfish, no date
Event – September 14, 2025 – The House of Collections
Symposium I The Mystery of the Lumpfish and Other Stories of Fakes and Forgeries
On September 14 at 1 PM, the National Gallery of Iceland will host a symposium in connection with the exhibition The Mystery of the Lumpfish and Other Stories of Fakes and Forgeries. The event will take place at The House of Collections on Hverfisgata.
Following the symposium, guests are invited to a closing reception for two exhibitions at the National Gallery on Fríkirkjuvegur:
- The Mystery of the Red Gurnard and Other Stories of Imitations and Forgeries
- Reflections – Kristján H. Magnússon
Speakers:
- Dagný Heiðdal, Art Historian and Curator
- Ólafur Ingi Jónsson, Conservator and Curator
- Vera Sveinbjörnsdóttir, Managing Director and Lawyer at Myndstef
- Jóhann Ágúst Hansen, Managing Director, Gallerí Fold
- Jóhannes Dagsson, Associate Professor, Department of Fine Art, Iceland University of the Arts
Museum admission applies.
Att. the symposium will be held in Icelandic
Course – National Gallery of Iceland 2025
Sjónarafl - Visual Literacy – Training in Visual Literacy
Course for Teachers
The National Gallery of Iceland, in collaboration with the Skaftfell Center for Visual Art in Seyðisfjörður, will host a series of courses for teachers in connection with the exhibition Kjarval in the East.
The courses will be held at Skaftfell and led by the National Gallery’s education specialists. They are open to teachers of all school levels as well as museum educators in the region. Sjónarafl - Visual Literacy is based on the Gallery’s book of the same name, which has become very popular among teachers.
The course uses a dialogue-based approach designed to enhance students’ knowledge and understanding of art and visual cultural heritage. Visual literacy training is directly linked to key competence criteria in communication and expression, as well as fostering creativity and critical thinking.
In 2024, the National Gallery of Iceland was nominated for the Icelandic Educational Awards for the publication and follow-up work related to the Visual Power book.
Each course lasts 2 hours, covering the book’s content and practical visual literacy training, held within the exhibition Kjarval in the East at Skaftfell.
Course schedule:
- September 16, 10:00–12:00
- September 16, 14:00–16:00 / Full
- September 17, 08:00–10:00 / Full
- September 17, 11:00–13:00
- September 17, 14:00–16:00 / Full
Registration: mennt@listasafn.is
Fee: 5,000 ISK – payable upon arrival.
The course fee includes a copy of the Visual Power book, which will be handed out on site.
Kjarval in the East: Kjarval in the East | National Gallery of Iceland
Sjónar afl - Visula Literacy: Sjónarafl þjálfun í myndlæsi | Listasafn Íslands
Courses 2025 – National Gallery of Iceland
Last Chance to Register for Art Courses
For Ages 7–9 and 10–12 🎨
The National Gallery of Iceland offers ambitious and inspiring art courses for children at the museum’s studio on Fríkirkjuvegur. The new courses began in early September, and this is the final chance to secure a spot before registration closes. Some courses already have waiting lists, and others are close to being full.
The course for children aged 7–9 is based on the museum’s current exhibitions. The children will explore selected artworks, focusing on developing their sense of color and form. They will have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of materials and techniques, including painting, printmaking, and sculpture.
The course for children aged 10–12 places special emphasis on drawing alongside painting, with a strong focus on color theory. Participants will learn about the effects of colors and how to use them, together with drawing techniques, to create depth and strong visual impact. The course also explores three-dimensional art forms, encouraging experimentation with shapes, abstraction, and the interplay between positive and negative space.
At the end of each course, there will be a special exhibition of the children’s work, where they will take part in the full exhibition-making process, sharing their creations with friends and family.
For more info and registration click here: Courses for kids | National Gallery of Iceland
Museum Shop 2025 – National Gallery of Iceland
Treasures from the Museum Shop
The National Gallery of Iceland’s museum shop is filled with high-quality gift items, greeting cards, jewelry, posters, books, and more.
Among its many treasures is a comprehensive book on the life and work of Kristján H. Magnússon, edited by Einar Falur Ingólfsson, with essays by Guðmundur Oddur Magnússon and Dagný Heiðdal.
The book was published in connection with the retrospective exhibition Reflections, which runs until September 14.
Buy the book here: Kristján H. Magnússon - The forgotten artist | Listasafn Íslands
Browse the webstore here: The National Gallery of Iceland Museum Store