Kaleidoscope: International Collection

This year, in 2023, the Reykjavík Art Museum celebrates its 50th anniversary and it is an occasion to look at the treasures that have been collected over this time. Of the approximately 17,000 registered works, sketches and other collection items, there are nearly one thousand by international artists. Amongst those, are names that can be considered "friends of Iceland", but various other connections also lie behind these works in the collection. Throughout the years, work donations have been made by artists and friends of the museum from around the world, while others have been specifically aqcuired for the museum collection. There are also several works by renowned international artists in the city's public spaces and thus owned and maintained by the museum.

This exhibition is divided into an introductory section where interesting international works give insight into various eras, works in the collection that have resulted through connections with Erró and his generous gifts to the museum in recent decades, and a special donation of selected works by Flúxus artists from a sister institution in Norway. There is enough to choose from and it is safe to say that this will be a curious display. Artists in the exhibition include Barbara Westman, Dale Chiluly, Ian Hamilton Finley, Roni Horn, Patrick Huse, Karin Sander, Bernd Koberling, Lawrence Weiner, Carolee Schneemann, Jean Jacques Lebel, Alicja Kwade, Yoko Ono and Kazumi Nakamura.