Visual Art Summer 2025 Across Iceland

Exploring visual art is both enjoyable and enriching, and this summer offers a wealth of exhibitions nationwide. It’s fitting to begin a journey around Iceland on the National Day, June 17th, when two exhibitions will open in Ísafjörður. At the newly renovated premises of the Ísafjörður Art Museum, artist Elín Hansdóttir will present the participatory exhibition "Book Space", which has toured internationally. At the same time, the centenary of the Old Hospital – now the Cultural House that houses both the museum and the library – will be commemorated.

Also opening on June 17th is the exhibition "Parallel Dimensions" by Finnish artists Karoliina Hellberg and Josefina Nelimarkka at Gallerí Úthverfa. The exhibition is part of the Við Djúpið music festival, which features a strong Finnish program this year, with the visual arts exhibition contributing to that focus.

Further south on the Westfjords peninsula, in Selárdalur, visitors can experience the Samúel Jónsson Art Museum, where Samúel’s artworks are displayed both indoors and outdoors.

In Dalabyggð, the exhibition space Nýp frequently hosts engaging shows, and Roni Horn’s Water Library in Stykkishólmur is also not to be missed.

Next, one might head to Djúpavík, where the exhibition "Sky Dancers" is on view in the old herring factory. Here, Icelandic and international artists use science and myth to guide visitors through the factory, evoking phenomena not typically visible in summer, revealing the intangible connections between Earth and Sky.

Aðalheiður Eysteinsdóttir runs the gallery Kompan in Alþýðuhúsið in Siglufjörður. Currently on display is an exhibition by Vilhjálmur Yngvi Hjálmarsson, and from July 11th–13th, the art festival Frjó will be held in celebration of the house’s 10 years of cultural activity.

At the Akureyri Art Museum, a group exhibition of North Icelandic artists is currently underway, offering insight into the diverse art scene in the region. Other exhibitions include "Time – Space – Material" by Þóra Sigurðardóttir and "Coexistence" by Heimir Hlöðversson.

Additional exhibition spaces in and around Akureyri include Deiglan, Flóra Cultural House, Kaktus, Mjólkurbúðin, and the Factory (Verksmiðjan) in Hjalteyri. Special attention should be given to the Icelandic Folk and Outsider Art Museum (Safnasafnið), which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with a major group exhibition.

In East Iceland, exhibitions can be found in Borgarfjörður Eystri, Egilsstaðir, and Seyðisfjörður. At Skaftfell Art Center in Seyðisfjörður, a new exhibition, "Kjarval in East Iceland", presents the artist’s landscape paintings from the region.

At Djúpivogur, the contemporary art museum Ars Longa will open a large group exhibition titled In the Shrublands (Í lággróðrinum) on June 28th, showcasing 13 Icelandic and international contemporary artists.

In Hornafjörður, the Svavar Guðnason Museum (Svavarssafn) offers a diverse program of exhibitions throughout the year.

In South Iceland, near Selfoss, the Icelandic Turf House (Íslenski bærinn) is a delightful place to explore the heritage of turf house construction and sustainable Icelandic architecture. In Hveragerði, the Árnesinga Art Museum is currently hosting two summer exhibitions: "Among Gods and Men: Icelandic Artists in Varanasi" and "A Place".