The Easter season is almost upon us and the staff of Hafnarborg therefore wishes the friends and supporters of the museum a very happy Easter. Opening hours during the holidays are as follows:
Maundy Thursday April 17th Open 12 p.m.–5 p.m.
Good Friday April 18th Closed
Holy Saturday April 19th Open 12 p.m.–5 p.m.
Easter Sunday April 20th Closed
Easter Monday April 21st Open 12 p.m.–5 p.m.
There are currently two exhibitions on view at the museum. The first, Linger, presents works by eight artists from England and Iceland. In the museum’s lower gallery, Universality by Jóna Hlíf Halldórsdóttir explores the creative power of language through the interplay of text and imagery.
Free entry – everyone welcome.
Hafnarborg and Uppsala – Exhibition Exchange
In collaboration with the City of Uppsala and Uppsala Art Museum, Hafnarborg presents an exhibition of select works from its collection, opening on Saturday, April 12th at 2 p.m., at Uppsala Castle. Titled From Saga to Present (Swedish: Från saga till samtid), the exhibition celebrates the longstanding partnership between the twin towns of Hafnarfjörður and Uppsala. Later this year, as part of this exhibition exchange, a corresponding show will open at Hafnarborg, showcasing artworks from Uppsala’s municipal art collection. The project is supported by the Museum Fund.
The exhibition in Sweden features works by Hildur Ásgeirsdóttir Jónsson, Tinna Gunnarsdóttir, Guðjón Ketilsson, Jónína Guðnadóttir, Rúna, Marinó Thorlacius, Astrid Kruse Jensen, Gurli Elbækgaard, Eiríkur Smith, Guðmundur Thoroddsen, Margrét Sveinsdóttir, Guðný Magnúsdóttir, Hallgerður Hallgrímsdóttir, Edda Jónsdóttir and Kogga.
The exhibition committee comprises Aldís Arnardóttir, Hólmar Hólm, Mikaela Granath and Tove Otterclou.
The exhibition will remain on view through June 8 and we warmly encourage all those who live in the area, or passing through the city, to visit Uppsala Art Museum and experience the show.
See more here on the website of Uppsala Art Museum.
April – Midday Concert Cancelled
We wish to inform you that the next Midday Concert at Hafnarborg, originally scheduled for Tuesday April 1st, has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
However, we warmly invite you to the last Midday Concert of the season at Hafnarborg, on Tuesday May 6th, when Edda Austmann Harðardóttir will be the guest of Antonía Hevesi.
We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to welcoming you at a later date.
Artist of the Year – Pétur Thomsen
At the Icelandic Art Prize 2025, Pétur Thomsen (b. 1973) was named Artist of the Year for his exhibition Settlement at Hafnarborg this past winter. As noted in the jury’s statement, the relationship between humans and nature has long been a central theme in Pétur’s photographic work, demonstrating evidence of humans’ encroachment on their environment.
“The exhibition Settlement is based on a long-term photographic project in which Pétur examines the coexistence of humanity and nature through the lens of imbalance and trauma to the earth caused by human interaction and development. In the works, the artist highlights discernable disruptions in nature, such as scars or erosion in the soil, along with traces of human neglect or indifference. In Hafnarborg’s main gallery, framed photographs, presented without glass, resembled paintings on canvas. Large in scale, some were singular while others were composed of multiple photographs, creating a cohesive whole.
The presentation invites the viewer to reflect, with the artist, on the message he wishes to convey: a stark reminder of humanity’s impact on the environment, which has led to global warming and natural disasters. The exhibition acts as an appeal to the visitors, compelling viewers to consider their own impact and connection to the living world.
The jury considers Settlement an exceptionally well executed exhibition, from the production to the presentation of the works, which includes a profound awareness of and concern for nature. With a deep knowledge of the photographic medium, Pétur Thomsen captures in his works an essence and vision that, through the exhibition, transform into a compelling dialogue with the viewer.”
The staff of Hafnarborg extends heartfelt congratulations to Pétur on the award, along with sincere gratitude for the excellent and fruitful collaboration. We also express our deepest thanks to The Visual Arts Council, the jury and everyone involved in the Icelandic Art Prize. Lastly, we send our sincere congratulations to all the awardees, celebrating their exceptional achievements and meaningful contributions to visual art in Iceland.
Museum Fund Allocation 2025 – Hafnarborg’s Projects
At the Annual Meeting of National Museums and the Museum Council of Iceland, held on February 14th, the allocation of the Museum Fund for 2025 was announced. This year, Hafnarborg received grants for four projects.
As part of this allocation, the fund will support the development of a children’s activity space on the upper floor of the museum and preparatory work for the implementation of a new Sarpur collection database, as well as an exhibition exchange between Hafnarborg and Uppsala Art Museum, as part of an ongoing partnership between twin towns Hafnarfjörður and Uppsala. Additionally, the fund will continue to support the museum’s event series In My Language, which offers art workshops and guided tours in foreign languages led by professional artists. This initiative was launched in 2023 with funding from the Museum Fund.
The grants were presented by Logi Einarsson, Minister of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education, during a formal ceremony at the National Museum of Iceland.
The staff of Hafnarborg extends heartfelt gratitude for the support, which enables the museum to better serve the community and remain a strong platform for art and culture in Hafnarfjörður.
Holiday Greetings from Hafnarborg
The Hafnarborg team wishes you all, the friends and partners of the museum, happy holidays and a joyful new year, as another remarkable year comes to an end.
We look forward to welcoming you at Hafnarborg in the new year.
Holiday Season 2024 – Opening Hours
Hafnarborg is open as usual, until Christmas, everyday except Tuesdays, 12–5 p.m. The opening hours during the holidays are as follows:
December 23rd, Thorlac‘s Mass – open 12–5 p.m.
December 24th, Christmas Eve – closed
December 25th, Christmas Day – closed
December 26th, Second Day of Christmas – closed
December 27th–30th – open 12–5 p.m.
December 31st, New Year‘s Eve – closed
January 1st, New Year‘s Day – closed
The office of Hafnarborg will be closed during the holidays. Regular opening hours will resume from January 2nd. Entry is free and everyone welcome.
Total Babes – Hafnarborg’s Autumn Exhibition 2025
The Art Council of Hafnarborg has selected Total Babes as the 2025 installation in the museum’s Autumn Exhibition Series, out of proposals submitted by curators earlier this year through an annual open call. The curators of the selected proposal are Jasa Baka and Petra Hjartardóttir, who will present an exhibition that invites viewers to explore themes of softness, power, and feminine energy in contemporary art.
At its heart, Total Babes examines the multifaceted nature of cuteness, the divine feminine, and the animistic belief that (mother) nature is a living, dynamic entity. These concepts are viewed through the lens of how they manifest in people, places and things, particularly at a time when feminine archetypes are reemerging and reshaping our understanding of identity and balance.
Featuring works across a range of mediums, the exhibition will highlight diverse interpretations of archetypes, mythological figures, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Through these varied perspectives, Total Babes offers an engaging and thought-provoking exploration of vulnerability and strength by opening a portal to bring the ethereal down to earth.
Jasa Baka is a multidisciplinary artist, Canadian Vestur-Íslendingur who has lived and worked in Iceland since 2017. She graduated with a Masters of Fine Arts from the Iceland University of the Arts in 2022. In Tiohtiá:ke (or Montréal), Canada, she obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Concordia University in 2008, with a specialization in Design for Theatre. She has shown work and performed in various places in Iceland, across Canada, New York and Athens, Greece.
Petra Hjartardóttir is a sculpture and installation artist working with a range of mediums including ceramics, textiles and silver. She has exhibited her work in museums and galleries in Iceland and abroad. She has participated in artist residencies in Italy, Norway and France. She graduated with an MFA in sculpture from Yale School of Art and a BFA in studio art from Hunter College, New York.
This will be the fifteenth exhibition in Hafnarborg’s Autumn Exhibition Series, where the objective is to collaborate with different curators, who get the chance to submit their own proposals, allowing new voices be heard. The Director and Art Council of Hafnarborg then review the submissions and select the winning proposal each year. The participating artists will be announced at a later date.
The Globe of Goodwill 2024 – Now Available at Our Shop
This year’s Globe of Goodwill, Flowers and Love Need Nourishment, by Hildur Hákonardóttir is now available at the museum shop. Each year, the Globe is sold as a limited edition, but in the last few years the Globe has sold out rather quickly, more often than not. All proceeds go to benefit children and young people with disabilities. About this year’s edition, Hildur says:
“The Northen Rock-cress is one of our most common spring flowers. Yet we rarely notice this tiny, white flower which spreads over barren, stony gravel hills, enlivens the land and attracts insects which then help pollinate other flowers that might venture there. In its humbleness, it reminds us that large presents are not needed to make people happy. Smiles and comforting words can bring more joy.
The Northern Rock-cress takes warmth from the sun, water from the skies and minerals from the rocks. Still, it is adorned by highly dissected leaves like the dandelion, the king of the wildflowers, perhaps to remind us that it also has its pride. But love needs nourishment, just like flowers, if it is supposed to thrive. Then, it is often the small things that matter most. The warm touch of a hand, encouraging words of kindness and inspiring helpfulness.”
During her long career, Hildur Hákonardóttir (b. 1938) has addressed contemporary issues, in particular environmental issues and gender politics, using varied media. She studied tapestry at the Icelandic College of Art and Crafts in 1964-68 and Edinburgh College of Art in 1969, and was headmistress of the Icelandic College of Art and Crafts in 1975-78. Hildur has held numerous exhibitions and published diverse books. The retrospective Red Thread at the Reykjavík Art Museum was awarded the Icelandic Art Prize in 2023 and Hildur received The Order of the Falcon in 2024.
The Globe of Goodwill will be sold at the museum shop from December 5th until December 20th, or for as long as it remains in stock.
Opening – Settlement and Kahalii
Saturday November 9th at 2 p.m., we warmly welcome you to the opening of two solo exhibitions at Hafnarborg. Artists Pétur Thomsen and Arngunnur Ýr will then be presenting their work in the museum. Both exhibitions offer an exciting perspective on nature and the relationship between humans and their environment, with each artist approaching the subject in their own unique way.
Settlement Pétur Thomsen has been working on this photo series for the past few years, but it has only been exhibited in part until now. The photographer directs the lens at pieces of land that have been disturbed or transformed in one way or another, for example through land use, mining, forestry, agriculture or the construction of roads and infrastructure. The photographs are taken at night and so the photographer uses a big flash to light up the land and define the stage. This imbues the photographs with an ominous tone, a post-apocalyptic feel, as the dark night sky suggests the looming threat.
Pétur Thomsen (b. 1973) completed his MFA degree from the École nationale supérieur de la photographie (ENSP) in Arles, France, in 2004. Prior to that, he studied French, art history and archaeology at The Université Paul Valéry in Montpellier and art photography at École supérieure des métiers artistiques, also in Montpellier. Pétur has been nominated for and received numerous awards and prizes, such as the 10th LVMH Young Artists’ Award, handed out in 2004. He was also selected by the Musée de L’Élysée in Lausanne for the project regeneration: 50 Photographers of Tomorrow.
Kahalii The exhibition delves into Arngunnur’s personal and artistic journey following her relocation to Hawaii, presenting new and recent paintings that respond to the complex interplay of nature, history, and human settlement. Set in an area where natural beauty is giving way to development, the works are deeply intertwined with the land’s layered history. The exhibition serves as both a personal reflection and a broader commentary on the ongoing transformation of landscape, inviting viewers to consider their own relationship with place and history.
Arngunnur Ýr (b. 1962) graduated with a BFA in painting from the San Fransisco Art Institute in 1986. She later attended studies at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 1989 to 1990, going on to complete her MFA in painting at Mills College, Oakland, California, in 1992. She has received various awards and recognition for her art, for example a grant from The Svavar Guðnason and Ásta Eiríksdóttir Art Award and from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation. Her works have been exhibited in Iceland, Europe and the United States and can be found in the collection of public museums, various institutions and private collectors, both in Iceland and abroad.
