Listasafn Sigurjóns Ólafssonar

About the museum

The Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum is dedicated to the sculptor Sigurjón Ólafsson (1908–1982), who was born at Eyrarbakki and is considered one of the foremost portrait artists of his time. He worked both abstract and realist pieces. After his death his widow, Birgitta Spur, founded a private collection around his works on 1 December 1984.

Birgitta converted the artist's studio and part of his home at Laugarnes into a museum building, and the museum opened to the public on 21 October 1988, on what would have been Sigurjón's 80th birthday. In 1989 the private collection was turned into an independent foundation, and Birgitta gave it many works as well as the building and its contents. The foundation ran the museum until 30 June 2012, when it was handed over to the Icelandic state and operated as part of the National Gallery of Iceland.

Since 1 December 2021 the museum has been run by the operating company Gríma ehf., led by Sigurjón's relatives. In addition to presenting his art, the museum holds exhibitions of other artists' works, conducts research and publishing, and hosts summer concerts that have become a firm fixture in the city's cultural life. The museum is in a large white house at the far end of Laugarnestangi, where there is a café with a view over the sounds.

Highlights

• Sculptures and drawings by Sigurjón Ólafsson
• Portraits that show his skill as a portrait sculptor
• Museum in the former studio and home of the artist at Laugarnes
• Café with a view over the sounds
• Summer concerts in the hall

Founded

1984

Operated by

Gríma ehf.

Admission & discounts

ICOM members enter free, as do holders of a prepaid Reykjavík card. Visitors can go straight to the café without paying admission. Tickets for the museum's concerts are available at the entrance and in the museum during opening hours.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The Laugarnestangi peninsula can only be reached by car from Sæbraut when coming from the east; visitors coming from the west can make a U-turn at the traffic lights at Sæbraut and Klettagarðar. You can also walk or cycle along the coastal path from downtown. The information is from October 2023.

Amenities & dining

• Café

The café offers coffee and home-baked treats while the museum is open, and has a lovely view over the sounds; it is also open after the museum's summer concerts.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 85 guests.

The large hall is rented out for concerts and seats 85 people. It has a Bösendorfer grand piano. The minimum fee for a concert is ISK 60,000, and STEF fees must also be paid when protected music is performed.