Long Thursday

You are warmly invited to a reception on Long Thursday from 20:00 to 21:00 at the National Gallery of Iceland, where the museum will formally receive a donation of linocuts by Ásta Sigurðardóttir.

Ásta Sigurðardóttir (1930–1971) demonstrated remarkable artistic talent from an early age, both as a writer and visual artist. She first gained attention with her short story Sunday Evening to Monday Morning, published with her own illustrations in the magazine Líf og list in 1951. Ten years later, her short story collection of the same name appeared—an audacious and provocative work that challenged prevailing moral norms. Fourteen of Ásta’s linocuts accompany the book, serving as symbolic and expressive visual interpretations of the text.

Ásta’s descendants have carefully preserved the original blocks she carved for the 1961 publication and have now chosen to donate them to the National Gallery of Iceland. The formal handover will take place next Thursday. A selection of the blocks will be on view, along with prints owned by the Gallery, produced in 2023 by printmaker Guðmundur Ármann from Ásta’s linocuts at the initiative of her family.

On the last Thursday of every month, the National Gallery of Iceland is open until 22:00.
The café, Kaktus Espressobar, is also open until 22:00 and offers Happy Hour on wine and beer from 17:00 to 20:00. A tapas platter with a glass of wine is available for 2,900 ISK.