MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES IN REYKJAVÍK

For such a small city, Reykjavík abounds with museums. It’s no wonder, since the country’s history is unique, and the artistic spirit of its inhabitants is almost like a force of nature. You can discover a quirky, young artist at the Living Art Museum, get a look at Iceland’s outlandish national costumes at The National Museum, and finish up the day with a lesson on how to properly milk an Icelandic cow at Árbær Open Air Museum.

WELCOME TO REYKJAVÍK ART

MUSEUM – RAM

The Reykjavík Art Museum is housed in three unique buildings in the city centre and holds some of the most distinguished works in Iceland’s artistic landscape.

CONTEMPORARY MODERN SCULPTURE

CONTEMPORARY

The exhibitions at RAM Hafnarhús are progressive and experimental, emphasising works from established contemporary artists, highlighting current notables, and encouraging the works of newcomers. RAM Hafnarhús is home to the works of the Paris-based Icelandic artist Erró (b. 1932), a significant player in the international pop art scene. The museum is located in the oldest part of Reykjavík by the harbour and built in the 1930s.

RAM Hafnarhús

Tryggvagata 17, 101 Reykjavík

+354 411 6400

www.artmuseum.is Opening hours: Daily 10am-5pm, Thursdays 10am-10pm.

Admission: ISK 1,950 Children under 18: Free The entrance ticket is valid for 24 hours in all three museums.

RAM Kjarvalsstaðir is named after the painter Jóhannes S. Kjarval (1885-1972), one of Iceland’s most influential and recognised artists. The most comprehensive collection of Kjarval’s works is on display in RAM Kjarvalsstaðir, highlighting his range of styles as well his use of local nature and mythology. RAM Kjarvalsstaðir is situated in beautiful Klambratún Park and is the first building in Iceland designed specifically to display art. Its doors opened in 1973 and it is a fine example of Nordic modernism. The building features floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of Klambratún Park and a beautiful restaurant. MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

RAM Kjarvalsstaðir

Flókagata 24, 105 Reykjavík

+354 411 6420

www.artmuseum.is

artmuseum@reykjavik.is Opening hours: Daily 10am-5pm.

Admission: ISK 1,950 Children under 18: FREE The entrance ticket is valid for 24 hours in all three museums.

SCULPTURE

RAM Ásmundarsafn Sculpture Museum is the former modest home and studio of the sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson (1893- 1982), who designed and constructed the building. The museum serves to honour his life and work and displays the largest collection of his sculptures both inside and in a beautiful park outside the building. Ásmundur’s art reflects his lifelong interest in the Icelandic sagas, folk tales, nature, and classical mythology. The building itself is a magnificent work of architecture, largely inspired by Mediterranean architecture. RAM Ásmundarsafn also houses temporary exhibitions and installations.

RAM Ásmundarsafn

Sigtún, 105 Reykjavík

+354 411 6300

www.artmuseum.is Opening hours: May-Sept: Daily 10am-5pm. Oct-Apr: Daily 1pm-5pm.

Admission: ISK 1,950 Children under 18: FREE The entrance ticket is valid for 24 hours in all three museums.

A DAY OUT OF TIME

This is Reykjavík’s open-air museum, where you can stroll through the past and experience how Icelanders lived.

Fun, fascinating, and full of surprises, this living museum takes you on a journey through time.

Reykjavík’s early history is preserved in a series of lovingly restored homes, where you’ll encounter costumed guides, grazing animals, and traditional crafts. Witness how Reykjavík came to life, from a few scattered farms to a vibrant capital city.

Kistuhylur 4, 110 Reykjavík +354 411 6300 www.reykjavikcitymuseum.is citymuseum@reykjavik.is

Your ticket to The National Gallery of Iceland is also valid for The House of Collections and the Home of an Artist.

REYKJAVÍK MUSEUM OF

PHOTOGRAPHY

CAPTURING THE MOMENT, THEN AND NOW

Reflecting the contemporary, while archiving the past – this is Reykjavík’s home of photography.

Reykjavík’s main photography museum offers an ongoing programme of contemporary and historical exhibitions and an onscreen archive of thousands of images from the past.

New work from Iceland and abroad reflects where photography is now, while extensive archives from 1860-2000 give an insight into Iceland’s changing culture and society over more than a century.

Tryggvagata 15, 101 Reykjavík +354 411 6300 www.reykjavikcitymuseum.is citymuseum@reykjavik.is

Your ticket to The National Gallery of Iceland is also valid for The House of Collections and the Home of an Artist. Árbær Open Air Museum is part of Reykjavík City Museum – one museum in five unique places.

Open: May-Sept | Daily 10am-5pm Oct-April | Tues-Sun 10am-5pm Admission: ISK 2,000 Seniors: FREE Children under 18: FREE

Reykjavík Museum of Photography is part of Reykjavík City Museum – one museum in five unique places.

Open: Mon-Thurs 10am-6pm, Fri 11am-6pm Weekends 1pm-5pm

Admission: ISK 1,100 Students: ISK 750 Seniors: FREE Disabled: FREE Children under 18: FREE

Enjoy the breathtaking view from Kópavogskirkja Church. Dive into nature at the Natural History Museum of Kópavogur. Fill your senses with progressive contemporary art at Gerðarsafn Kópavogur Art Museum, have a look at what the museum shop has to offer and enjoy some delightful beverages at the local café. Take a moment to relax and read at Kópavogur Public Library. Have a nice soak at Kópavogur Swimming Pool. And if you’re lucky, attend a concert at Salurinn Concert Hall.

Welcome to Culture Hill, the easy way to experience culture and nature all in one stop. Conveniently located at the Hamraborg bus stop in Kópavogur, the hill includes several unique cultural attractions within walking distance. Culture Hill is serviced by buses 1, 2 and 4 from Reykjavík centre to Hamraborg.

The Natural History Museum offers an insight into Icelandic wildlife and the formation of Iceland. Icelandic biota and diverse habitats in Icelandic nature are displayed in a creative way. Open: Mon-Thu 8am-6pm, Fri-Sat 11am-5pm Free admission

Gerðarsafn Kópavogur Art Museum is a progressive museum focusing on modern and contemporary art. Gerðarsafn offers temporary exhibitions with works by Icelandic and international contemporary artists and displays the museum collection. The exhibition program echoes the museum’s status as the only Icelandic Museum built in honour of a female artist, sculptor Gerður Helgadóttir (1928-1975). Open daily 10am-5pm

Kópavogur Public Library welcomes all to its cosy surroundings, offering a good selection of books and magazines. The library’s vision is to provide an attractive space where guests enjoy spending time, browsing the collection, and attending various events. Open: Mon-Thu 8am-6pm. Fri-Sat 11am-5pm

Salurinn Concert Hall is the first specially designed concert hall in Iceland and offers various concerts all year round. Box office open: Tue-Fri 12pm-4pm.

At Culture Hill, various events are offered free of charge. Check out the event schedule at www.meko.is. CULTURAL HOUSES OF KÓPAVOGUR Hamraborg, 200 Kópavogur

Gerðarsafn Art Museum Hamraborg 4, 200 Kópavogur www.gerdarsafn.is +354 441 7600

Natural History Museum of Kópavogur Hamraborg 6, 200 Kópavogur www.natkop.is, +354 441 7200

Kópavogur Public Library Hamraborg 6, 200 Kópavogur www.bokasafn.kopavogur.is +354 441 6800

STEP INTO THE VIKING AGE

An open excavation where Viking ruins meet digital technology.

Just below ground in downtown Reykjavík, at Aðalstræti 16, this open excavation uncovers the city’s Viking Age history. Discovered during construction work and carefully excavated, these ruins are the earliest evidence of human settlement in the city.

Further down the street, Aðalstræti 10 houses a direct continuation of The Settlement Exhibition, representing Reykjavík’s history from settlement to the present day.

Visitors gain insight into the complex history and culture of Reykjavík through the development of construction and city planning in the oldest house in the city centre.

Aðalstræti 16, 101 Reykjavík +354 411 6300 www.reykjavikcitymuseum.is citymuseum@reykjavik.is

Open: Daily 9am-6pm. Family-friendly and informative exhibition about the evolution of Reykjavík, from farm to city.

The Settlement Exhibition is part of Reykjavík City Museum – one museum in five unique places.

Admission: ISK 2,500 (also valid for Aðalstræti 10) Students: ISK 1,550 Seniors: FREE Children under 17: FREE

REYKJAVÍK MARITIME MUSEUM

HOW THE OCEAN FORMED A NATION

A harbour museum exploring Iceland’s dramatic relationship with the sea.

The survival of the Icelandic nation depended on generations of brave fishermen heading into the unknown. Over the centuries, traditional methods of catching and working with fish transformed into a science that helped create and maintain a modern society.

Exhibitions and artefacts bring our ocean history to life, from battling the waves to the ‘Cod Wars’ and beyond. Plus the chance to climb aboard the Óðinn, a 900-tonne coast guard ship, with its own stories to tell.

Grandagarður 8, 101 Reykjavík +354 411 6300 www.reykjavikcitymuseum.is citymuseum@reykjavik.is Reykjavík Maritime Museum is part of Reykjavík City Museum – one museum in five unique places.

Óðinn guided tour: ISK 1,500 Museum and Óðinn: ISK 3,000 Admission: ISK 1,950 Students: ISK 1,200 Seniors: FREE Children under 17: FREE

THE HOUSE OF ICELAND’S NOBEL PRIZE LAUREATE

Gljúfrasteinn was the home of writer Halldór Laxness (winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1955) and his family for more than half a century.

Halldór was a prolific writer during his long career, and his books have been translated into 43 languages and published in more than 500 editions. The author’s home is preserved just as it was when he lived and worked there.

The museum features a multimedia presentation dedicated to Laxness’s life and work. Laxness witnessed the better part of the 20th century, and his life and works reflect the cultural, political, and intellectual movements that shook and transformed the world during the century. His books and souvenirs can be accessed in the museum gift shop. Audio tours of the house are available in Icelandic, English, German, Swedish, and Danish. A folder is available in French, with detailed information about the house, objects, and works of art. Tours can be offered in other languages by prior arrangement with the staff.

In the beautiful countryside in Mosfellsdalur, right next to Gljúfrasteinn, visitors can take walks to see where Laxness spent his childhood and, in later life, sought his inspiration.

Gljúfrasteinn - Laxness Museum 270 Mosfellsbær +354 586 8066 www.gljufrasteinn.is Open: May-Sept | Daily 10-17 Closed during weekends Nov-Feb

Admission: ISK 1,200 Seniors/students: ISK 1,000 Children under 18: FREE

THE EINAR JÓNSSON MUSEUM

SCULPTURE MUSEUM AND GARDENS

The ‘first’ Icelandic sculptor was Einar Jónsson (1874-1954), whose statues can be found scattered throughout Reykjavík, including those of Jónas Hallgrímsson and Jón Sigurðsson. A museum can be found inside the beautiful and formidable building that he designed and lived in, which sits across the street from Hallgrímskirkja.

Inspired by Icelandic folklore and mythology, Einar Jónsson’s work first went on display in 1901, and he quickly became one of the most important figures in Iceland’s art scene. While several of his most famous works sit inside the museum, many of his sculptures can be found in the back garden, open 24 hours a day and free of charge.

Hallgrímstorg 3, Reykjavík +354 551 3797 lej.is/en Open: Tue-Sun 12-17

Admission: ISK 1,500 Seniors/students: ISK 1,000 Children under 18: FREE

The exhibition Treasures of a Nation in the House of Collections sheds light on the invaluable collections of the National Gallery of Iceland. The exhibition consists of masterpieces of Icelandic art from the National Gallery’s archives, featuring works of art dating from the latter half of the 19th century to the present day. The pieces reflect the artists’ wide-ranging themes and offer visitors the welcome opportunity to see many of the nation’s most important works of art. The exhibition´s Resistance and The Ocean are an interdisciplinary family friendly exhibition´s that bridges the gap between visual arts and science. The works on display are key works in the collection of the National Gallery of Iceland, that establish an interesting dialogue between art and science and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

On 1 March 2021, the Culture House passed into the keeping of the National Gallery. The building, completed in 1909, was originally built to house the National Library, National Archives and National Museum collections. It was the first purpose-built facility for such collections in Iceland. This splendid old building now enables the National Gallery to hold a standing exhibition of key works from its collections, and it is a welcome addition to the Gallery’s exhibition spaces.

Hverfisgata 15, Reykjavík +354 530 2210 www.culturehouse.is

Your ticket to The National Gallery of Iceland is also valid for The House of Collections and the Home of an Artist. Open: May-Sept | Daily 10am-5pm Oct-April | Tues-Sun 10am-5pm

Admission: ISK 2,000 (Valid for 1 year) Seniors, 67+ and students: ISK 1,000 Children under 18: FREE

HOME OF AN ARTIST

Ásgrímur Jónsson (1876–1958) is one of the pioneers in the history of Icelandic art; he was the first Icelandic painter to make a career in art. Ásgrímur’s life and oeuvre span a long period of Iceland’s history – a time when the old rural society was starting to decline and Reykjavík was growing from a town into a city.

Bergstaðastræti 74, 101 Reykjavík +354 515 9600 www.listasafn.is list@listasafn.is Open: May-Sept | Daily 10am-5pm Oct-April | Tues-Sun 10am-5pm

A COLLECTION OF ICELAND’S TREASURES

The National Gallery of Iceland, established in 1884, is Iceland’s principal art museum. Its collection consists mainly of works of 19th and 20th-century art. In its possession are many of the keystones of Icelandic art history, as well as a growing collection of works from other countries.

The National Gallery’s main role is to collect, preserve, research, and exhibit Icelandic art and offer education about it. A considerable emphasis is also laid on showing Icelandic art in context with international art. The museum sees it as one of its priorities to educate visitors about exhibitions and single artworks, by means of texts, guidance, meetings with artists, and a database which is accessible through computers in The National Gallery’s education centre.

Fríkirkjuvegur 7, 101 Reykjavík +354 515 9600 www.listasafn.is list@listasafn.is

Your ticket to The National Gallery of Iceland is also valid for The House of Collections and the Home of an Artist. Open: May-Sept | Daily 10am-5pm Oct-April | Tues-Sun 10am-5pm

Admission: ISK 2,000 Seniors: FREE Children under 18: FREE

ART AND CULTURE CENTRE

Founded by celebrated artist Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir, also known as Shoplifter, Höfðustöðin houses one of her most notable exhibitions: Chromo Sapiens. Multi-coloured sheep hair adorns the walls, ceilings and floors, giving it the look of “Dr Suess on LSD.” Chromo Sapience debuted at the Venice Biennale in 2019 and has inspired Shoplifter to create more installations of her psychedelic furry artwork but also open her own art and culture centre for her artwork – the first Icelandic woman to do so!

Rafstöðvarvegur 1a, 110 Reykjavík +354 550 0077 www.hofudstodin.com

Open: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am-17pm Admission: ISK 1,850 Youth (12-17): ISK 1,150 Seniors: ISK 1,150 Children (5-11): ISK 550 Children under 5: FREE

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ICELAND

ICELAND’S HISTORY FROM THE SETTLEMENT TO PRESENT DAY

The National Museum displays authentic objects that provide insight into Icelandic cultural history – exhibits encouraging visitors to reflect on the past, present, and future.

At the museum, you can explore the permanent exhibition, Making of a Nation - Heritage and History in Iceland, which provides insight into the history of the Icelandic nation from the settlement to the present day. The museum caters to all ages as children can enjoy games and play dress-up. Adults and children alike can explore the museum via interactive touch screens and audio guides that complement the exhibitions. Guided tours are available from June

Fríkirkjuvegur 7, 101 Reykjavík +354 515 9600 list@listasafn.is www.listasafn.is 1. to August 31. See our website for more details.

The museum shop offers a stylish and educational atmosphere with custommade goods and handicrafts.

The museum café offers soup, sandwiches, coffee, tea, and a variety of drinks and other delicacies.

Admission: ISK 2,500 (Valid for 1 year) Seniors: FREE Children under 18: FREE

EXPERIENCE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

Take a walk through history and learn how people and cultures worldwide experienced the northern lights via legends and myths connected to this amazing phenomenon.

Learn the science behind the aurora via interactive displays and try out the specially equipped “photo booth” where you can learn how to adjust your camera’s settings for capturing the elusive lights.

Aurora Reykjavík’s ace up its sleeve is a fantastic 4K time-lapse film of the aurora borealis. Projected onto a seven-metre-wide screen, you can sit back on bean bags and enjoy this 30-minute film that features dazzling aurora displays captured all over Iceland.

Try the virtual reality goggles featuring the world’s first 360° movie of auroral displays. If you can’t catch the northern lights yourself, this almost real experience is definitely the next best option to witness the beauty of this truly amazing phenomenon.

The knowledgeable and friendly staff are on hand to answer any questions about the lights and about northern lights photography, accompanied by a free cup of coffee or tea.

The gift shop stocks a selection of high-quality handmade items by young Icelandic designers, photographers, and artists.

Since its foundation, the Living Art Museum has been an important forum in the Icelandic art community for introducing, reflecting, and debating the role of contemporary art. It offers a varied programme that extends beyond art exhibitions, including performances, film and video screenings, live music, lectures and symposiums, poetry readings, and theatre.

Grandagarður 2, 101 Reykjavík +354 780 4500 www.aurorareykjavik.is

Open: Daily 9am-9pm Admission: ISK 2,000 Students: ISK 1,800 Children 6 - 18: ISK 1,000 Children under 6: FREE

THE LIVING ART MUSEUM

INSPIRING EXPERIMENTAL ART

The Marshall House by the old harbour is the home of the Living Art Museum. This non-profit, artist-run museum and association was founded in 1978 to showcase experimental and groundbreaking contemporary art, at a time when Icelandic art authorities had stagnant views of what constituted art and art history.

The Living Art Museum’s collection consists entirely of donations from artists and individuals. Through the past four decades, the collection has grown to feature works from the most inspiring Icelandic artists of our time.

The Marshall House Grandagarður 20, 101 Reykjavík +354 551 4350 www.nylo.is Open: Wed-Sun 12am-18pm Long Thursday (Last Thursday of the month): 12am-12pm.