Over the next few minutes we will be breaking down everything we know about art in Reykjavik in full detail and our first section will fully cover the best art galleries and museums near you.
After that we will get into a variety of other topics like art supply stores, events, festivals, dealers, appraisers, walking tours, local sculptures and statues, art classes, studios for rent, and the top frame shops in your area.
Contents
You can jump straight to any section that interests you most by using the table of contents on the left and we are also including a Reykjavik art map with all of the spots we mention throughout the post pinned on it.
Europe is obviously somewhere that we have covered often on our site.
Best Art Galleries & Museums In Reykjavik
The best art galleries and museums in Reykjavik would:
- Kling & Bang at Grandagarður 20
- Art Gallery Fold at Rauðarárstígur 12-14
- I8 Gallery at Tryggvagata 16
- Ásmundarsalur at Freyjugata 41
- Reykjavík Art Museum at Flókagata 24
- The Living Art Museum at Grandagarður 20
- The Nordic House at Sæmundargata 11
- Listamenn at Skúlagötu 32
- Hverfisgallerí at Hverfisgata 4
- Samtökin 78 Gallery at Suðurgötu 3
- Berg Contemporary at Klapparstígur 16
- Gallery Port at Laugavegur 32
- Wind and Weather Window Gallery at Hverfisgata 37
- Ekkisens at Bergstaðastræti 25B
Kling & Bang is an artist-run space that is open from noon to 6pm Wednesday through Sunday and that was founded in 2003 by 10 artists.
In Iceland Gallery Fold, which is open from 10am to 6pm Monday through Friday and from noon to 4pm on Saturday, is a market leader in exhibits and auctions. Fold was created in 1990 and is presently housed in a 600 square meter building with more than 5 showrooms featuring works by about 60 notable local Icelandic painters.
i8 Gallery is open from noon to 5pm Wednesday through Saturday and has cultivated an influential group of twenty-three foreign and Icelandic artists from its Reykjavik headquarters during its twenty-six year history.
Expect to find an exhibition hall, artist studio, and a café at Ásmundarsalur in Freyjugata.
Reykjavik Art Museum is open from 10am to 5pm daily and is a vibrant and developing environment that allows visitors to learn about art in a variety of ways and get a greater knowledge of the historical, social, cultural, and aesthetic contexts of various artworks. The Reykjavik Art Museum is divided into three buildings including Hafnarhs, Kjarvalsstair, and Smundarsafn.
The Living Art Museum near you is a non-profit artist-run member-based museum and venue for contemporary visual art that you can visit from noon to 6pm Wednesday through Sunday. It is dedicated to presenting cutting-edge work by Icelandic and worldwide artists as well as collecting and preserving modern works.
Organizing and presenting exhibitions and activities throughout the year ranging from lectures and workshops to concerts, literary events, and film screenings is what The Nordic House does best. All interests and ages are provided for whether for frequent tourists, international visitors, or schools and families and many activities are free of charge.
Listamenn is an Icelandic art dealer that is open from 9am to 6pm Monday through Friday and from noon to 4pm on Saturday that can create crates for paintings and ship them wherever plus they also commit to displaying photographs in homes and institutions.
Hverfisgalleri focuses on exhibiting varied and ambitious works that represent today’s art mentality. The gallery opened in early 2013 and works with both new and renowned contemporary artists.
Samtökin ‘78 is an Icelandic LGBT interest and advocacy organization founded in 1978 that provides school groups, professionals, workplaces, and other organizations with presentations, workshops, and training programs.
For a contemporary art gallery in Reykjavik housed in an ancient glass factory head to Berg from 11am to 5pm Tuesday through Friday and from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday.
Port is located at Laugavegur 23b and is an artist-run gallery and studio that is open from noon to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday.
The shows at Window Gallery Iceland vary every one or two months with an emphasis on local contemporary artists interested in producing site-specific mixed media works.
Ekkisens is an experimental workshop, museum, and local school of sensitive art as well as a curator of exhibits.
Materials & Supplies Near You
These art stores in your area should have all of the materials and supplies you desire:
- Penninn Eymundsson at Austurstræti 18
- Litir Og Föndur at Smiðjuvegur 5
- Abc Skólavörur at Sundaborg 1
- A4 at Köllunarklettsvegi 10
- Námskeið og Vöruúval at Krókháls 5
Penninn Eymundsson is a traditional Icelandic bookshop with locations around the country that provides a large range of books, periodicals, and other reading materials in Icelandic and other languages plus their stores have a large range of art supplies and materials.
Litir og Föndur is one of Iceland’s major stores specializing in art and craft supplies.
Since 2005 Abc Skólavörur has been providing services to schools and kindergartens specializing in paints and handicrafts, particularly painting and imaginative toys.
A4 has a history that dates back more than four decades and its roots are in providing office supplies to businesses and people as they serve both the individual and business markets in Iceland and are dedicated to providing great service based on a thorough understanding of their product offerings and ambitious digital solutions.
Shows & Events In Iceland
Some of the best art shows and events in Iceland are held right here like:
- Museum Night in February
- Reykjavík Arts Festival in June
- Innipúkinn Festival in July
- Iceland Airwaves in November
Museum Night takes place in February and was created to highlight Reykjavik’s unique cultural legacy. By reopening the museum doors at night local residents and visitors will be able to explore the various facilities during the most fascinating and wonderful hours preceding midnight.
The Reykjavik Art Festival is a biennial interdisciplinary festival that focuses on new commissions and the creative confluence of the arts.
For a fun yearly music event that takes place in downtown Reykjavik over Iceland’s bank holiday weekend check out Innipúkinn where Cat Power, Blonde Redhead, Mugison, Raveonnettes, Hjálmar, Trabant, Seabear, Jonathan Ritchman, Mnus, Dikta, FM Belfast, and many more have performed in the past. This festival includes a music market, a pub quiz, BBQ, and other creative activities in addition to the music program.
Iceland Airwaves is an annual music event held in early November in Reykjavik that lasts four days and focuses on promoting new music from Iceland and throughout the world.
Art Dealers & Appraisers
When you want to find some new unique pieces to add to your collection or figure out the true value of something visit art dealers and appraisers near you like:
- Art Gallery 101 at Laugavegur 44
- Galleríið at Skólavörðustígur 20
- Gallerí Fold at Rauðarárstígur 14
Art Gallery 101 is a cooperative gallery of 15 local artists that is committed to supporting the growth of the creative vitality of the community specializing in fine art and fine gifts to accommodate every budget.
For a co-op gallery comprising 24 artists in your area working in various mediums contact Galleríið.
Gallerí Fold is a leading company in exhibiting and auctioneering that was founded in 1990 showcasing the work of around 60 top Icelandic painters and accepting works for resale from people and corporations both directly and through auction.
Walking Tours
The Reykjavik Street Art Mural is really worth checking out and the Sculpture & Shore Walk would be the closest thing to an art walking tour in Iceland we know of.
Sculptures & Statues
You might also want to take some photos of these statues and sculptures in your area:
- Sun Voyager at Sæbraut
- Monument to the Unknown Bureaucrat at 4 Vonarstræti
- Partnership Sculpture at Sculpture & Shore Walk
- Skúli Magnússon Fógeti at Fógetagarður
- The Statue of Leif Eiriksson at Eiriksgata
Jón Gunnar Árnason’s Sun Voyager sculpture is placed along the Sæbraut Road and has been described as a dreamboat.
Magns Tómasson created the Monument to the Unknown Bureaucrat in 1994.
The Partnership sculpture was presented to Iceland in 1991 to commemorate the country’s 50-year diplomatic connection with the United States.
Skúli Magnússon Fógeti is situated close to the City Center and Gudmundur Einarsson’s bronze sculpture from 1953 is life-size if not a little bigger.
As a gift from the United States to Iceland a monument of Erikson was constructed in the City Center that is now located in front of Hallgrmskirkja to mark the 1,000th anniversary of Alingi, Iceland’s parliament.
Reykjavik Art Classes
You might be interested in private lessons or group classes for kids, teens, or adults but either way the best art schools in Reykjavik and all of Iceland would be:
- Iceland University of the Arts at Þverholt 11
- Myndlistaskólinn í Reykjavík at Hringbraut 121
- Creative Iceland at Seljavegur 9
- Málum og Skálum at Auðbrekka 6, Kópavogur
The Iceland Academy of the Arts provides a diverse variety of academic programs in the arts.
The Reykjavik School of Visual Arts is a non-profit run by artists and designers and according to the Icelandic Qualification Framework in Education the school is accredited by the Directorate of Education as a private secondary school providing study programs with completion at the third and fourth levels.
Individuals, families, and groups may benefit from Creative Iceland’s unique activities, cultural and culinary experiences, and tailor-made itineraries.
Malum og Skálum is an Icelandic paint and drink that is the first of its type where groups are invited to the studio one night to paint a 40 x 50 cm artwork with acrylic paints and take it home. All of the necessary supplies are provided and the entertainment is centered on parties being permitted to bring light snacks like beer or light wine while painting. This would definitely be considered more of a casual art lesson in your area than some of the others.
Studios For Rent Near You
The Seljavegur residence is housed in the same structure as one of SM’s most popular art studio spaces at Pósthólf 1115, IS-121.
Ásmundarsalur also has studio space available to rent.
Framing
When you need art framing in Reykjavik head to:
- Rammastúdíó Innrömmun at Ármúli 20
- Innrömmun Sigurjóns at Fákafen 11
- Innrammarinn ehf at Rauðarárstígur 41
Rammastúdíó specializes in the incorporation of paintings, photos, posters, and other framed items with a studio that is well-equipped with sophisticated workmanship and cutting-edge technology used to produce a high-quality frame for your items. They sell a variety of frame materials and related products in your area including cut glass and potash, stretch canvas on blind frames, and sticky posters and maps on foam.
A plethora of frame lists made of high-quality materials, cardboard of various sorts, mirrors of various designs, and all kinds of ready-built frames in both conventional and non-standard sizes can be found at Innrömmun Sigurjóns.
Innrammarinn provides two levels of quality frames to ensure that your artwork is protected for years to come while adhering to the Fine Art Trade Guild’s quality requirements in the United Kingdom and their employees have passed the Fine Art Trade Guild quality exam.
In the past we have also shared some:
- Oslo Art Business Information
- Copenhagen Art Business Information
- Stockholm Art Business Information
- Helsinki Art Business Information
Have Fun Enjoying The Reykjavik Art Scene
You just learned about all of the best Iceland art galleries, museums, events, shows, supply stores, dealers, appraisers, walking tours, sculptures, classes, studios, and framers near you.
If you made it this far you might just know quite a bit about the local art scene yourself. Feel free to share your own tips, or to let us know if we may have gotten anything wrong in the comments.
Have fun going to the galleries, museums, buying supplies, or doing anything that has to do with art in Reykjavik!
