Ties: Björg Thorsteinsdóttir
The exhibition Ties presents a curated selection of works by artist Björg Thorsteinsdóttir, created between the 1970s and the 2010s. Featured are her acrylic paintings, graphic prints, and sculptures crafted from Japanese paper. At the heart of this exhibition is Thorsteinsdóttir’s lifelong exploration of geometric form—a theme she pursued across monochrome graphic prints, vibrant canvases, and the layered textures of her paper sculptures. With an exceptional understanding of colour and form, these works resonate with precision and humility, profound expressions that draw viewers into her vision.
Through Ties, we celebrate Björg’s enduring artistry and her lifelong commitment to the arts—a legacy that continues to inspire and captivate.
Björg Þorsteinsdóttir (1940–2019) was an Icelandic artist who worked in painting, drawing, watercolour, and printmaking from the 1960s until her passing in 2019. Known as one of the leading figures in Icelandic printmaking, she exhibited widely, with her first solo show held at Unuhús, Reykjavík in 1971.
Throughout her career, Björg's work was selected for exhibitions both locally and internationally, with her pieces held in major collections in Iceland and across the globe, such as at the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, Musée des Beaux-Arts in Caen, Museo Nacional de Grabado Contemporáneo in Madrid, Museum of Contemporary Art in Skopje, Museum of Art in Poland, and Museum of Universal Graphics in Egypt.
Her excellence in etching earned her numerous accolades, including awards at international print exhibitions in Entrevaux, France (1970), Madrid, Spain (1976), and for her watercolours at an international festival in Plunge, Lithuania (2004). Additionally, she was recognized with a French government grant from 1971–1973 and was a resident artist at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, Villa Arson in Nice, France, Ragdale Foundation in Lake Forest, USA, and Skandinavisk Forenings Kunstnerkollegium in Rome, Italy.
Educated at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts, where she graduated in 1964, Björg furthered her studies at the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Stuttgart and the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. She also honed her etching skills under the mentorship of S.W. Hayter at Atelier 17 in Paris.
In addition to her contributions to art, Björg played an active role in the Icelandic art scene, serving on the boards of the Icelandic Printmakers Association and the Association of Icelandic Visual Artists. She also contributed to the management of cultural institutions, directing Ásgrímur Jónsson's Museum (1980–1984) and teaching at both the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and the Reykjavík School of Visual Art.
