“We See What We Want to See”

Elín Sigríður María Ólafsdóttir

Artist Elín Sigríður María Ólafsdóttir presents works that span her entire career, from the early days of her artistic practice to the present, but earlier this year Elín was designated the featured artist of the festival Art Without Borders 2024. Elín started honing her creative skills at a young age, channelling her artistry through both words and visuals. Elín also has a great passion for theatre and performance, having been involved with the theatre troupe Tjarnarleikhúsið for years, as well as publishing poetry and working on stage production in various capacities, including stage and costume design.

Elín often works with fantastical imagery, in addition to drawing on the self and self-representation in various ways in her artistic output. The artist invites guests to engage with the works through their own imagination, perhaps opting to write short stories or poems inspired by her art. Those that are willing may even get on stage to recite a piece of their own choice – in conversation with Elín’s works.

Elín Sigríður María Ólafsdóttir (b. 1983) works in the field of visual art, theatre and poetry, having studied art both in Iceland and abroad, graduating with a diploma in art for students with special needs from The Reykjavík School of Visual Arts in 2017. Elín’s work has been widely featured in solo and group exhibitions, for example at Listasalur Mosfellsbæjar and The Icelandic Folk and Outsider Art Museum, as well as in books and magazines. Elín has been a frequent participant of Art Without Borders through the years and she is a consultant on matters of inclusion at Listvinnzlan.