The art scene in Akureyri, Iceland’s largest town in the north is more vibrant than I expected. Artists, galleries and creative talent are oozing from this coastal scenic town that boasts mountains, volcanoes, waterfalls, valleys, ice caves and lagoons all within a 60 mile stretch.
I went on a casual and informal art walk that started at a place called Mjolkurbudin, or in English, “The Milk Shop.” They had a few artists displayed in the gallery including this very vibrant and funky sculpture with bright orange forks.
The place was a traditional art gallery for the most part…
Then, I was fortunate to be able to visit an art museum full of volunteers and artists preparing for an exhibit which went live on June 22. The creative force behind the exhibition is Adalheiaur S. Eysteinsdottir and her work is nothing short of experiential. Sheep, farmers and rural life are all in displayed in wood. There are even carvings of food in wood, which are so vividly painted you might even think the pies and cakes are edible.
I then meandered through a group of studios, which is their equivalent of an art coop. I took in the work of Freyja Reynisdottir, Olafur Sveinsson and others.
For something a little out of the box, Anna Richardsdottir focuses on performance art.
If you haven’t explored what Iceland has to offer on the art scene, Akureyri isn’t the only place brimming with creativity. The capital city of Reykjavik also has a lot to offer – we’ll circle back on the Reykjavik art scene a little later.
Go here for more on Iceland Art / Art in Iceland, here for Iceland Travel / Traveling to Iceland and for food in Iceland / Iceland restaurants / top Iceland restaurants.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
