The Hvammsvík Art Collection
Heighten your Senses
You will find a wide variety of art in all the buildings and houses, as well as around the grounds of the Hvammsvík Estate.
The works on display rotate between the houses and The Barn. Below you will find a sample of our collection.
Some of the works in our collection
The Phoenix
As you enter the estate, you will drive by a roundabout featuring the sculpture Phoenix (1961) by one of Iceland's leading sculptors, Ásgrímur Sveinsson (1893 - 1982). The sculpture represents the human desire for eternal life.
Beauty/Beast Self Portrait
Icelandic Love Corporation. ILC, or Gjörningarklúbburinn in Icelandic, is a group of three (now two) artists who have collaborated for over 20 years and are frequent visitors to Hvammsvík.
Dr. Livingstone, I presume
Peter Linde Busk blends figurative and abstract art, using detailed images that suggest folk tales and literary stories through his artwork titles. His work offers witty and sometimes absurd reflections on the contradictions of human life.
Tent
Keli or Hrafnkell Sigurðsson Hrafnkell’s art focuses on sharp contrasts—between nature and culture, wild landscapes and human refinement. His work often highlights the clash between order and the chaotic, threatening presence of waste that won’t disappear. He explores questions of survival, presenting destruction in a striking and beautiful way.
Untitled (1970)
Hörður Ágústsson (1922 - 2005) is often called the Renaissance Man of Icelandic Art. He was an artist, architect and a pioneer in graphic design.
Untitled (1970)
Hörður Ágústsson (1922 - 2005)
The Glacier Melt (1993)
Ólafur Elíasson, part of his glacier series done in 1993. This photo series is unique for many reasons, including an accidental extra photo that became part of the work.
Stamps
Birgir Andrésson (1955 - 2007) One of six pieces in our collection that feature Andrésson's works of old Icelandic postage stamps.
Woman
Sæmundur Valdimarsson (1918 - 2006) began carving wooden figures in his advanced years. He collected driftwood, dried it, and carved what he felt was hidden within each piece.
Black Raven
Jón Sæmundur aka Nonni Dead. Life and death have been central themes in Jón’s work since his HIV diagnosis in 1994. This exploration led to his most famous and accessible creation, the multi-layered Dead concept. Jón is the singer and founder of the rock'n'art band Dead Skeletons.
Hell Ride
Ásmundur Sveinsson (1893 - 1982). The sculpture is more complex and striking than his earlier works but remains harmonious. The fused man and horse create a strong, unified presence.
Girl
Sigurjón Ólafsson (1908 - 1982) was one of the pioneers of abstract art in Iceland. In addition to traditional projects, he consistently created free works where imagination and experimentation with materials and forms took the lead. His work featured a wide range of materials, including clay, plaster, wood, metals, stone, and concrete.
Police Officer
Marc Sijan is known for his hyper-realistic sculptures. This life-size sculpture is based on the artist's father. The statue was originally placed in the reception of Hvammsvík Hot Springs but was moved to The Barn after complaints from customers.
Self-portrait
Chuck Close (1940 - 2021) was an American visual artist and painter who made massive photorealist and abstract photographs of himself and other people.
Black Swan
Icelandic Love Corporation
Beauty/Beast
Icelandic Love Corporation - Second Part of the Beauty/Beast series
Smiley
Hrafnhildur Árnadóttir, aka Shoplifter. Hrafnhildur represented Iceland at the Venice Biennale in 2017. You can't miss a custom piece she did for us covering the bar with her signature braids.
Self Portrait in Cadillac
Icelandic Love Corporation. Made out of Icelandic liquorice and marzipan.
White Wedding
Hrafnhildur Árnadóttir aka Shoplifter
Buddha
Tolli
On Display at the Hot Springs Reception & Stormur Bistro
Cars in Rivers
Ólafur Elíasson. This is a favorite as it brilliantly shows Icelandic optimism and adventure spirit, depicting cars being claimed by nature but their owners determined to save the day.
Atom Sculpture
Tomas Saraceno
Sun Voyager
Jón Gunnar Árnason (1931 - 1989). This is the original model that Jón Gunnar proposed to Reykjavik City, now the most photographed artwork in Iceland, located by the ocean on Sæbraut close to the Harpa concert hall. The final version differs from the model as it lacks the sails present in the original.
Axes
Icelandic Love Corporation
Knitted Ocean
Hrafnhildur Árnadóttir aka Shoplifter. Covers the bar/reception.
Light Sculpture
Studio miklo created a beautiful light sculpture for Hvammsvík. The color and form is inspired by the nature in the area and the custom made light contains a stone from the Hvammsvík beach.
Studio miklo is a collective established in 2020 by Helga Björk Ottósdóttir and Hjördís Gestsdóttir. Their work straddles between the spheres of ceramic sculpture, textile and interior design.
About our collection
At Hvammsvík, we emphasize authentic and unique experiences, and the same applies to our art collection.
You will find a wide variety of art in all the buildings and houses, as well as around the grounds of the Hvammsvík Estate.
The collection has been put together over the last few decades, starting when the founder, after saving up for a car, spent all his savings on art instead and continued to use his bike.
This collection reflects the owner's evolving taste, mood, and whims, rather than focusing on a single movement or theme.
The collection primarily features contemporary and modern art by many of Iceland's leading artists, with notable exceptions including works by international artists such as Andy Warhol, Per Kirkeby, Chuck Close, and Tomas Saraceno.
Notably, the collection is well-represented by female artists, a fact the founder attributes to the spontaneous and impulsive nature of their acquisitions.
Today, we love to get to know the artists we work with, and many of them are frequent guests at Hvammsvík.
The collection will continue to grow organically and in our opinion, art should be visible amongst the public in a setting which everybody feels comfortable visiting.
Art Centre
The Hvammsvík Art Centre aims to bring art to the public in an inviting environment where it can be admired and contemplated.
Exhibitions
We regularly host art exhibitions at Hvammsvík. Get an overview of currenct, upcoming and past exhibitions.
Artist Lodges
8 lodges that are dedicated to Icelandic artists and feature their original artwork.
How to find us
- from Reykjavík
- 56km
- from KEF Airport
- 98km
- from Thingvellir
- 38km
- from Akureyri
- 377km