Sveinn Björnsson (1925-1997) was a prolific artist who lived most of his life in Hafnarfjörður. Sveinn would have turned 100 this year and, to mark this milestone, Hafnaborg is hosting an exhibition of his works in the museum’s lower gallery. Sveinn primarily worked with paintings but also created drawings, collages and ceramic works. His artistic career can be divided into three periods: initially, he focused on images of seafaring, followed by a phase of fantasy-inspired works and, during his final years, he embraced colour fully, painting exclusively abstract oil paintings. All the works in this exhibition come from this last period.

Here, the interaction of pure, strong colours appears in vigorous strokes, where hues blend to form new tones. Sometimes the colours stand nearly three-dimensional on the canvas, while at other times, they float like veils reminiscent of light passing through stained glass. Sveinn had a deep connection to nature and his studio in Krýsuvík became a sanctuary, where the colours of the land and sky were a constant source of inspiration. “I love colors, strong colors. That’s the kind of man I am; I want to live intensely in everything I do,” he said shortly before his passing.

Sveinn Björnsson had a studio at his home in Kaldakinn but also worked extensively at his house in Krýsuvík, alongside his career in the police force. He was educated at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen and his works have been exhibited in major galleries both in Iceland, Denmark and abroad. Many of his works are held in public collections, including a large mosaic at the Suðurbæjarlaug swimming pool in Hafnarfjörður.