Ólga / Swell

Women's Initiative in Icelandic Art in the Eighties

The exhibition Swell brings together works by nine artists who navigated and took part in changing the local art scene in the eighties. Their presence and persistence contributed to a broader feminist movement that not only reclaimed space but amplified women’s artistic practices, reshaped the discourse around visibility, representation, and artistic agency.

 The exhibition and this accompanying publication are the result of research conducted by Becky Forsythe, who held the temporary research position at the Reykjavik Art Museum. The museum was awarded a Grant of Excellence by the Icelandic Council of Museums in 2021 to research the role of women in Icelandic art history in collaboration with the department of art studies at the University of Iceland. Swell is the third and last project implemented within that context.

The artiest are:  Ásta Ólafsdóttir, Brynhildur Þorgeirsdóttir, Erla Þórarinsdóttir, Gerla – Guðrún Erla Geirsdóttir, Harpa Björnsdóttir, Margrét Jónsdóttir, Rúna Þorkelsdóttir, Rúrí og Svala Sigurleifsdóttir

• Paperback
• 256 pages
• Illustrated
• Language: English and Icelandic
• Released: 2025
• Publisher: Reykjavík Art Museum
• Size: 27.5 cm x 21.5 cm x 2 cm
• Weight: 1,185 g