Ásmundur Sveinsson

In his early days his pieces invariably met with opposition and fierce criticism, but over the years they have established themselves as one of the manifestations of the Icelandic narrative tradition, society and nature in the 20th century. He studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm under the guidance of sculptor Carl Milles.

In the late 1920s he lived in Paris for three years and travelled around Italy and Greece. That period had no less an impact on him than his student years in Stockholm. Ásmundur remained faithful all his life to the principle that art was relevant to the people and belonged to the masses. He was called the “folk poet” of visual art, and without a doubt that ideal arose from his philosophy no less than from the tradition of sculpture. Many of his pieces were conceived as a part of public space, an integral part of the surroundings, or were developed as design and utilities.

The collection spans his entire artistic career and shows how his work evolved and changed over his long life. A large number of Ásmundur's works can also been seen in public spaces in Reykjavík. The museum also regularly hosts exhibitions of works by other artists which often refer to Ásmundur’s art.

Ásmundur mostly designed the building himself between 1942-59. Among other things, he built an arched building at the back of the house, which was intended as both a studio and a showroom. Architect Manfreð Vilhjálmsson designed the link that connects the main building to the arched construction. The design of the building draws its inspiration from the Mediterranean, Arabian domes and Egyptian pyramids. In the garden by the museum, you will find many of Ásmundur Sveinsson’s works, which have been enlarged or made especially for outdoor use.