Events

„Stand there and turn into stone!“

A clay workshop based on Ásgrímur Jónsson’s folklore works. Stories of terrifying trolls and the clever children who outwit them. Let’s make our own trolls that turn to stone!

The National Gallery of Iceland invites you to the opening of the exhibition Looking Inward, Looking Outward: 140 Years of the National Gallery of Iceland!

The 140th anniversary of the founding of the National Gallery of Iceland is marked by a new exhibition: Looking Inward, Looking Outward: 140 Years of the National Gallery of Iceland. The exhibition highlights important acquisitions from the collection by nearly 100 artists, including significant gifts to the museum and important purchase.

The exhibition is organized around four main themes: Society and Community; Picturing the Self and Others; Form, Line and Colour; and Humans and Nature. Certain works of art look outwards – at the country, the artist’s immediate surroundings, society, or the world as a whole – and tend to provide a vision that gives rise to self-realisation for individuals and society. Other works of art look inward, exploring the self, history or cultural heritage, also open an outward view – a broader perspective on the world.

A guided tour led by the museum director

Museum director Ingibjörg Jóhannsdóttir will lead visitors through the exhibition Looking Inward, Looking Outward – 140 years of the National Gallery of Iceland.

To mark the 140th anniversary of the founding of the National Gallery of Iceland, the museum will devote its galleries to a selection of outstanding works by approximately 100 artists from the collection. Each of the four halls of the museum at Fríkirkjuvegur will center on a theme: form, the individual, society, and the natural world. The exhibition will reflect on the importance of the museum as a place for preservation and a living forum for the meaningful exchange of ideas.

The event will be held in Icelandic

An expert-led, themed tour of the exhibition focusing on form and the individual
To mark the 140th anniversary of the founding of the National Gallery of Iceland, the museum will devote its galleries to a selection of outstanding works by approximately 100 artists from the collection. Each of the four halls of the museum at Fríkirkjuvegur will center on a theme: form, the individual, society, and the natural world. The exhibition will reflect on the importance of the museum as a place for preservation and a living forum for the meaningful exchange of ideas.

The National Gallery of Iceland offers a creative and exciting art course for children in its new art workshop at Fríkirkjuvegur 7.

The course is inspired by the museum's exhibitions, where participants will explore the artworks while focusing on enhancing their color and form perception. Children will have the opportunity to use a variety of materials and work in different mediums such as painting and sculpture.

The aim of the course is to encourage children to approach visual art with greater confidence and curiosity. Teaching will take place through hands-on experiences, discussions, and artistic creation. At the end of the course, an exhibition will be held for friends and family to showcase the results of the children’s work.

Children should wear clothing suitable for painting, splashing, and having fun! The workshop is accessible to all.

Dates: September 12 – December 5, 2024
Time: Thursdays from 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Age: 10–12 years old (children born 2012–2014)

Price: 53,000 ISK
20% sibling discount
Limited spots available, with 8–10 children per course.

Registration: Send an email to mennt@listasafn.is to register.

Required information for registration:

Child's full name

Child's ID number

Payer's full name and ID number

Full names and phone numbers of two guardians

Any additional relevant information (e.g., allergies or special needs)

Instructor: Marta María Jónsdóttir, artist and expert at the National Gallery of Iceland

Afternoon at the Museum
Program for Art Enthusiasts

Immerse yourself in the world of art at the National Gallery of Iceland, where experts provide in-depth insights into various elements of art history. The program includes a catalogue related to each topic, light refreshments, and an annual pass+1 valid at the National Gallery of Iceland and the House of Collections.

Location: Fríkirkjuvegur 7
Registration: Required. Please contact mennt@listasafn.is to secure your spot. Attendance is limited to 20 participants per event.
Price: 9,800 ISK

Korriró and Dillidó – Ásgríms Jónsson’s folklore works
An exploration of Ásgrímur Jónsson’s folklore works in the context of their importance to the nation’s cultural heritage. The National Gallery conserves a great variety of treasures worth exposing to the daylight and sharing with the public. Amongst these are Ásgrímur Jónsson’s folklore works which provide an invaluable insight into significant elements of the nation’s visual heritage. Ásgrímur was the first artist to visualize the elves, trolls and ghosts that had lived in the Icelandic psyche for centuries. These works appeared both in exhibitions and books in the first years of the twentieth century.   

Note: This event will be held in Icelandic

Let’s Look Up

Mirrors appear in this creative workshop where we transform the forms observed in the museum’s architecture into works of art. We’ll examine the man-made elements of our environment that we tend to see as ordinary, the building that houses us, and the architecture of our museum.

The Gallery encourages families to visit and ponder the art on their own terms. We also offer diverse programming on a regular basis with an emphasis on enabling families to enjoy time together in creative ways, whether through live guided tours or custom workshops. All events are advertised specially in connection with exhibitions.

The kids' club Krummi runs a varied and fun program every month where cheerful kids are invited to learn about the works of art in the collection of the National Gallery of Iceland, create works of art and play in a nurturing environment.

The National Gallery of Iceland offers a creative and exciting art course for children in its new art workshop at Fríkirkjuvegur 7.

The course is inspired by the museum's exhibitions, where participants will explore the artworks while focusing on enhancing their color and form perception. Children will have the opportunity to use a variety of materials and work in different mediums such as painting and sculpture.

The aim of the course is to encourage children to approach visual art with greater confidence and curiosity. Teaching will take place through hands-on experiences, discussions, and artistic creation. At the end of the course, an exhibition will be held for friends and family to showcase the results of the children’s work.

Children should wear clothing suitable for painting, splashing, and having fun! The workshop is accessible to all.

Dates: September 12 – December 5, 2024
Time: Thursdays from 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Age: 10–12 years old (children born 2012–2014)

Price: 53,000 ISK
20% sibling discount
Limited spots available, with 8–10 children per course.

Registration: Send an email to mennt@listasafn.is to register.

Required information for registration:

Child's full name

Child's ID number

Payer's full name and ID number

Full names and phone numbers of two guardians

Any additional relevant information (e.g., allergies or special needs)

Instructor: Marta María Jónsdóttir, artist and expert at the National Gallery of Iceland

Afternoon at the Museum
Program for Art Enthusiasts

Immerse yourself in the world of art at the National Gallery of Iceland, where experts provide in-depth insights into various elements of art history. The program includes a catalogue related to each topic, light refreshments, and an annual pass+1 valid at the National Gallery of Iceland and the House of Collections.

Location: Fríkirkjuvegur 7
Registration: Required. Please contact mennt@listasafn.is to secure your spot. Attendance is limited to 20 participants per event.
Price: 9,800 ISK

Korriró and Dillidó – Ásgríms Jónsson’s folklore works
An exploration of Ásgrímur Jónsson’s folklore works in the context of their importance to the nation’s cultural heritage. The National Gallery conserves a great variety of treasures worth exposing to the daylight and sharing with the public. Amongst these are Ásgrímur Jónsson’s folklore works which provide an invaluable insight into significant elements of the nation’s visual heritage. Ásgrímur was the first artist to visualize the elves, trolls and ghosts that had lived in the Icelandic psyche for centuries. These works appeared both in exhibitions and books in the first years of the twentieth century.   

Note: This event will be held in Icelandic