Things to do in Capital Region, Capital Region: The Best Art Museums

Reykjavik Art Museum is the leading art museum in Iceland and has three locations in Reykjavik: Hafnarhus, Kjarvalsstadir and Asmundarsafn. Asmundarsafn is the former home and workshop of the sculptor Asmundur Sveinsson, who designed and mostly constructed this building himself in Laugardalur. The museum served to preserve his work and life, and displays the largest collection of his sculptures both inside and outside the building. Asmundur's art greatly reflects his lifelong interest in the Icelandic sagas, folk tales and classical mythology.

Gerðarsafn is a progressive museum with an emphasis on modern and contemporary art, located in the heart of Kopavogur. Gerðarsafn offers temporary exhibitions with works by Icelandic and international contemporary artists as well as displaying the museum collection. The exhibition program echoes the museum‘s status as the only Icelandic museum built in honor of a woman artist.

As a part of Reykjavík Art Museum, Kjarvalsstaðir houses the works of one of Iceland’s most influential and recognised artists, Jóhannes S. Kjarval. The exhibitions at Kjarvalsstaðir focus primarily on paintings and sculptures of the established masters of modern art. The building is a fine example of Nordic modernism, it features floor-to ceiling windows that look onto the beautiful Klambratún Park. One can take in the view while enjoying a drink or a snack at the Museum's Café. The Museum's Café is open from 10h00-17h00. There is also a Museum Store in the lobby and a lovely family-activity space, the Idea Lab. Jóhannes S. Kjarval (1885–1972) has a unique place in Icelandic cultural history, as one of the nation's most beloved artists of all time. He was a legend in his own lifetime, and in the eyes of many he was the archetypal romantic bohemian artist. Kjarval donated some of his works and personal effects to the city of Reykjavík in 1968.

The home and studio of post-Impressionist painter Asgrims Jonssonar is now a museum of his works.

The Culture house, which is a part of the National museum has always been considered one of Iceland's most beautiful buildings. The main exhibition called Points of View takes guests on a journey through the Icelandic visual world of past and present. Your ticket to the Culture House is also valid to the National Museum of Iceland.

THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ICELAND Iceland's leading art museum, established in 1884. Its collection consists mainly of 19th, 20th and 21st century art.

The old harbour warehouse, Hafnarhus, offers a progressive exhibition program with local and international contemporary artists. The works of key figures, as well as established and emerging current artists are presented in six galleries. Hafnarhus is also home to the works of Erro (b. 1932), a significant player in the international pop art scene. In 1989 Erro gave the City of Reykjavik a large collection of his works, a total of about 2,000 items, including paintings, watercolours, graphic art, sculptures, collages and other works spanning the artist's entire career from his youth. Hafnarhus is located in the oldest part of Reykjavik, where the town’s boats and first docks lay. The building was erected in the 1930s and at the time it was one of the largest buildings in the country. The house was renovated by Studio Grandi architects in 1998-2000 to house Reykjavik Art Museum. Hafnarhus Kitchen is temporarily closed. Meanwhile we offer free coffee for visitors!