Programme of the week
Announcement 2025 – National Gallery of Iceland
8pm - 9pm
On Good Thursday, thereminist, visual artist, and producer Ólöf Rún Benediktsdóttir will perform an improvised sound piece that combines theremin playing with recordings from privately owned hydroelectric power stations dating back 70–100 years. The recordings were made between 2021 and 2023 as part of research for the exhibition Rafóm, which she presented in collaboration with visual artist Rán Jónsdóttir.
Ólöf’s music is characterized by an electrified emotional intensity, where dreamy melodies—performed with voice and theremin—intertwine with a dark and atmospheric soundscape created through samples and synthesizers.
Stay updated on the exciting program of Good Thursdays through the National Gallery of Iceland's social media channels and website.
Museum entrance fees apply.
Facebook event: (20+) Fimmtudagurinn langi / Good Thursday | Facebook
More: Long Thursday | National Gallery of Iceland
Announcement 2025 – Halloween at the House of an Artist
The annual Halloween event at Ásgrímur Jónsson’s House, Bergstaðastræti 74, returns – now a known stop for curious creatures on Halloween night!
We dare all who are brave to visit the old artist’s home at this spooky time of year…
The house comes alive, and strange things hide in the dark.
Facebook event: (20+) Hrekkjavaka í húsi listamannsins 🎃 | Facebook
More: Halloween at the House of an Artist | National Gallery of Iceland
Event 1 November 2025 – National Gallery of Iceland
Krummi Kids’ Club
Art Workshop: We Are Multitudes– Self-Image in Motion
You are warmly invited to a art workshop with the Krummi Kids’ Club at the National Gallery of Iceland by the Pond on Saturday from 2 PM to 4 PM.
We will explore video works by the artist Steina, focusing especially on pieces in which she appears herself, and then create our own artworks inspired by her style in the studio.
Steina often worked with different kinds of transformation and distortion in her art and sometimes took the leading role in her own works.
FREE for the whole family!
Facebook event: (20+) Krakkaklúbburinn Krummi – Við erum alls konar – sjálfsmynd með hliðrun | Facebook
More: For children of all ages | National Gallery of Iceland
Margrét Elísabet Ólafsdóttir, Markús Þór Andrésson, Pari Stave
Courses 2025 – National Gallery of Iceland
Adult Education
STEINA: Playback
We draw your attention to the course STEINA: Playback, taking place in November. The course is intended for those who wish to deepen their understanding of time-based media, i.e. art forms that unfold in time, such as film, video, sound, and digital technologies and modes of transmission.
Key concepts and the development of time-based media will be reviewed, and works by contemporary artists examined. The exhibition Steina: Playback will be central to the course, with a focus on the career and works of Steina Vasulka, a pioneer in the field of video art.
Teaching schedule:
▪️ Thursday, November 13, 17:15–19:00
▪️ Thursday, November 20, 17:15–19:00
▪️ Thursday, November 27, 17:15–19:00
The course is a collaboration between the National Gallery of Iceland, Reykjavík Art Museum, and Iceland University of the Arts.
Course 2025 – The House of Collections
Adult Course
Turn-of-the-Century Women and the Awakening of Icelandic Art
The turn of the 20th century marks a defining chapter in Icelandic art history. In the years leading up to it, Icelandic society was undergoing profound change—and women played a vital role in the emerging visual arts movement.
Born in the latter half of the 19th century, these women belonged to the growing urban middle class. Many received art education—not necessarily to pursue artistic careers, but to cultivate aesthetic taste and sensitivity, qualities thought essential for creating a beautiful and harmonious home. For decades, their contributions remained largely unseen, earning them the name “the hidden women” of Icelandic art.
In recent years, however, their pioneering work has been rediscovered through exhibitions and publications, reigniting interest in their stories and achievements. This course introduces some of the leading female figures in late 19th-century Icelandic art, examining their works and placing them within the cultural and artistic context of the time.
Open to anyone interested in art and history.
Location: The House of Collections, Hverfisgata
Dates & Time:
- Wednesday, November 5, 17:15–19:00
- Wednesday, November 12, 17:15–19:00
Instructor: Dagný Heiðdal
More information and registration here: Listasafn Íslands | Námskeið
Museum Shop 2025 – National Gallery of Iceland
Treasures from the Museum Shop
National Gallery of Iceland
The National Gallery of Iceland’s museum shop is filled with a wide selection of high-quality gifts, including greeting cards, jewelry, posters, books, and much more.
Among the many treasures is the book Crossroads - A Dialogue Between Art and Literature, celebrated authors and poets like Sjón, Hallgrímur Helgason, Jón Kalman Stefánsson, and the internationally acclaimed Anne Carson select a single artwork from the national collection that sparks their imagination. Their resulting texts—prose and poetry—don't just describe the art; they unlock it, creating new pathways for understanding and connecting us to the artists' and authors' worlds in profound, unexpected ways.
By the book here: The National Gallery Editions: Crossroads | Listasafn Íslands
Browse the webstore here: The National Gallery of Iceland Museum Store