Iceland Newsletter

Our Iceland newsletter comes directly from Petur H. Armannsson, Curator of Architecture at the Reykjavik Art Museum.

The Einar Jonsson Sculpture Museum
Sklavsrduholt, Reykjavik 1916-1923
Einar Jonsson, sculptor
Einar Erlendsson, architect

At the peak of Sklavsrduholt hill in the centre of Reykjavik there is a building which is a must to see for all visitors to the city who are interested in architecture. It is the Museum of the Icelandic sculptor Einar Jonsson (1873-1954) which is also his former home and studio. In 1914, Einar, who was living in Copenhagen at that time, donated all his artwork to the State of Iceland on the condition that it would build him a museum and studio in Reykjavik.
The building was designed by the artist himself with technical assistance from architect Einar Erlendsson. It is a highly personal creation and can be regarded as his largest sculpture. A narrow spiral staircase inside a large concrete column connects the ground floor studio with the gallery room in the middle floor and the penthouse apartment of the artist on the top.

The Einar Jonsson Museum is open in the afternoon all days except Mondays during the summer season and on weekends from September to May, closed in December and January.