Programme of the week
Opening 2 October 2026 – National Gallery of Iceland
Veil opens 2 October 🎉
We warmly invite you to the opening of the exhibition Veil at the National Gallery of Iceland on Friday, 2 October at 17:00.
Veil (2012) is a mesmerizing video work by Sigurður Guðjónsson, filmed in a single continuous sixty-minute take. The work captures in image and sound the play of the wind across the black sands of Skeiðarársandur. Blown sand is swept away, layer by layer, from the camera’s still gaze towards the endless horizon. Presented in a continuous loop, with no discernible beginning or end, the work becomes an image of the relentless passage of time.
Curator: Pari Stave
Facebook Event: (20+) 2 X OPNUN | 2 X OPENING: Hula eftir Sigurð Guðjónsson & Kjarval á Austurlandi | Facebook
Abou the exhibition: Veil | National Gallery of Iceland
Veil by Sigurður Guðjónsson opens at the National Gallery of Iceland
Opening 2 October 2026 – National Gallery of Iceland
Kjarval in the East
Opens 2 October 🎉
We warmly invite you to the opening of the exhibition Kjarval in the East at the National Gallery of Iceland on Friday, 2 October at 17:00.
Kjarval in the East presents landscapes and portraits from East Iceland by Jóhannes S. Kjarval (1885–1972). Kjarval spent his formative years in Borgarfjörður eystri and returned there frequently as an adult, drawing inspiration for his work from the area. The works, most of which are from the collection of the National Gallery of Iceland, span the period from 1919 to 1960 and include oil paintings, watercolours, prints and ink drawings.
Curator: Anna Jóhannsdóttir
Facebook Event: (20+) 2 X OPNUN | 2 X OPENING: Hula eftir Sigurð Guðjónsson & Kjarval á Austurlandi | Facebook
More about the Exhibition: Kjarval in the East | National Gallery of Iceland
Kjarval in the East opens at the National Gallery of Iceland
Event 4 October 2026 – National Gallery of Iceland
Curator-Led Tour
Kjarval in the East
Join us for a curator tour at the National Gallery of Iceland on Sunday, 4 October at 14:00, when Anna Jóhannsdóttir will introduce visitors to the exhibition Kjarval in the East.
Kjarval in the East presents landscapes and portraits from East Iceland by Jóhannes S. Kjarval. Kjarval was one of the pioneers of Icelandic modern art. This beloved artist is often said to have opened Icelanders’ eyes to the distinctive beauty of their country, not least the beauty to be found right beneath their feet.
Museum admission applies.
Facebook Event: (20+) Leiðsögn sýningarstjóra: Kjarval á Austurlandi │Kjarval in the East: Curator – led tour | Facebook
More about the exhibition: Kjarval in the East | National Gallery of Iceland
Curator-Led Tour
Margrét Blöndal
Autumn Course 2026 – The Einar Jónsson Museum
Course: Drawing at the Einar Jónsson Museum
Due to popular demand, we have decided to offer an additional drawing course with Margrét Blöndal in October.
Over the course of three evenings, participants will have the opportunity to explore the visual world of artist Einar Jónsson. From the space itself – his largest sculpture – to individual works that provide inspiration for drawing, the museum and its atmosphere will play a central role. Participants will spend time in the museum’s galleries, which once also served as the artist’s studio and home. The emphasis will be on flow and creative approaches to drawing.
The course will explore the fundamental elements of drawing: form, line and movement.
The course is suitable both for beginners and for those wishing to develop their drawing skills further.
All materials are provided.
Dates and times: October 15th, 22nd and 29th, 5:15–7:00 pm
Location: The Einar Jónsson Museum, Hallgrímstorg 3
Instructor: Margrét Blöndal, artist
Registration to all courses here
Drawing at the Einar Jónsson Museum
Ólafur Kvaran
Course for adults 2026 – The Einar Jónsson Museum
The Symbolic World of Sculpture and the Artistic Career of Einar Jónsson
This course explores Einar Jónsson’s artistic career, the history of the museum, and his artistic philosophy within both Icelandic and international contexts. Participants will also examine the symbolic world of Einar’s sculptures from an art historical perspective and discuss how his work has been received in Iceland.
Note: the course will be held in Icelandic
Dates and times: October 14th and 21nd, 5:15–7:00 pm
Location: The Einar Jónsson Museum, Hallgrímstorg 3
Instructor: Ólafur Kvaran, art historian and former Director of the National Gallery of Iceland
Registration to all courses here
The Symbolic World of Sculpture and the Artistic Career of Einar Jónsson
Melkorka Ólafsdóttir
Course for adults 2026 – The Einar Jónsson Museum
Creative Writing Workshop at the Einar Jónsson Museum
The artist’s ideas and selected works will serve as inspiration for creative writing. Participants will be introduced to simple and practical tools for developing texts based on visual observation and personal reflection.
Note: the course will be held in Icelandic
Dates and times: November 4th and 11th, 5:15–7:00 pm
Location: The Einar Jónsson Museum, Hallgrímstorg 3
Instructor: Melkorka Ólafsdóttir, Radio producer at the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service and poet
Registration to all courses here
Creative Writing Workshop at the Einar Jónsson Museum
Steinunn Harðardóttir & Nathalie Jacqueminet
Artworks at home - how to take care of them
Conservators from the National Gallery of Iceland will share practical advice on how to care for artworks and objects at home. Topics include handling, display, hanging, packing, transportation, and storage, as well as the key factors that contribute to their long-term preservation.
Note: the course will be held in Icelandic
Dates and times: November 18th and 25th, 5:15–7:00 pm
Location: The National Gallery, Fríkirkjuvegur 7
Instructors: Nathalie Jaqueminet and Steinunn Harðardóttir, conservators
Registration to all courses here
Artworks at home - how to take care of them