Modern Icelandic art

Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir

Modern Icelandic art and landmark modernist architecture in Reykjavík

ArtArchitectureLocal heritageContemporary

Explore the legacy of Jóhannes S. Kjarval alongside modern paintings and sculptures. Set in a striking Nordic modernist building, this art space offers a family-friendly creative lab, a curated museum store, and a scenic park-facing café.

A modernist art museum dedicated to the works of painter Jóhannes S. Kjarval and Icelandic modern sculpture, featuring a park-side café and creative family space.

Art and Architecture at Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir

Situated in Reykjavík, the Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir is dedicated to the works of Jóhannes S. Kjarval, one of Iceland's most influential modern artists. The venue showcases modern paintings and sculptures within a landmark modernist building. Visitors can explore the core art galleries, engage with family activities in the Idea Lab, and enjoy views of Klambratún Park from the café.

Exterior view of the Kjarvalsstaðir museum showing a modernist concrete building with a covered walkway supported by columns, a tree in the foreground, and wooden entrance doors at the center

Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir opening hours in Reykjavík

Check today’s opening status, weekly schedule, and special date changes for Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir. Use these opening hours to plan your arrival and avoid closed times in Reykjavík.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

10:00-17:00

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Family visits at Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir

Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir provides dedicated creative spaces where children can engage with art through hands-on materials. Families can participate in the recurring Let's Play Art programme, which encourages artistic exploration through games and discussion. These resources offer a practical way to experience the museum exhibitions together.

Kjarvalsstaðir warmly welcomes families, offering dedicated creative spaces where children can engage with art-related materials.

Why families will enjoy it

Dedicated creative space for families at Kjarvalsstaðir
Rotating creative materials linked to current exhibitions
Recurring 'Let's Play Art' programme for families

Activities and resources for children

Family program

Let's Play Art

A family programme focused on viewing and experiencing art through games, creativity, and discussions.

Play area

Family Creative Area

A dedicated space for families to explore art through fun, exhibition-related creative materials.

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Museum Access and Passes

Visitors exploring the modern Icelandic art collections at Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir can gain admission using the Reykjavík City Card. This pass provides an integrated way to experience the museum and other cultural sites across the city, allowing for seamless access to the landmark gallery located beside Klambratún park.

Reykjavík City Card

A comprehensive pass for cultural access and city transit.

Use this pass to visit major museums, galleries, and swimming pools throughout the city. It includes unlimited bus travel and ferry transit for a flexible duration of 24, 48, or 72 hours.

Accepted here3 pass options

From ISK 61

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Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir Location and Park Setting

The Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir is located on Flókagata in Reykjavík, situated inside the green expanse of Klambratún Park. This distinctive modernist building features large windows that look out onto the surrounding gardens, offering visitors a peaceful park-side setting to experience modern Icelandic art.

Flókagata 24

105 Reykjavík

Capital Region, IS

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The Modern Art Experience at Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir

Located in Reykjavík, the Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir offers a unique encounter with Icelandic modern art inside a landmark modernist building. The light-filled galleries focus on the expressive works of Jóhannes S. Kjarval alongside temporary exhibitions of modern painting and sculpture. Large floor-to-ceiling windows look out onto Klambratún Park, blending the natural landscape with the cultural space. Visitors can also explore creative projects in the family-friendly Idea Lab or relax at the scenic park-side café.

Exterior of the Reykjavík Art Museum, a large light gray modernist building with a distinctive angled canopy over the entrance and flags hanging on the facade.

The History of Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir

Established in 1973, Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir stands as a landmark of Icelandic culture in Reykjavík. The museum opened as the country's **first purpose-built space** designed specifically for visual art exhibitions, named in honor of the painter Jóhannes S. Kjarval. While the broader institution expanded to include Ásmundarsafn in 1983 and Hafnarhús in 2000, this modernist venue remains a dedicated hub for modern masterpieces and Kjarval’s enduring legacy.

Establishment of the institution in 1973
1973Founding
The Reykjavik Art Museum was founded in 1973. It serves as the largest visual art institution in Iceland, overseeing multiple locations and the city's general art collection.
Opening of Kjarvalsstaðir in 1973
1973Opening
Kjarvalsstaðir was opened in 1973 as a dedicated venue for visual art exhibitions. Named after the beloved Icelandic painter Jóhannes S. Kjarval, it was the first building of its kind in Iceland specifically designed for art displays.
Construction of Ásmundarsafn residence
1942-1950Construction
The building now housing the Ásmundarsafn was constructed by the artist Ásmundur Sveinsson himself between 1942 and 1950. It originally functioned as the artist's personal home and studio, incorporating themes from Arab and Mediterranean architecture.
Opening of Ásmundarsafn museum site
1983Opening
Following the legacy of sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson, the Ásmundarsafn opened to the public as a museum in 1983. It is dedicated to showcasing the sculptor's drawings and extensive body of work.
Renovation and opening of Hafnarhús
2000Renovation
Hafnarhús, formerly a city harbour warehouse, was fully renovated and opened as the most recent addition to the museum locations in April 2000. The restoration process aimed to preserve the building's original industrial architecture while repurposing it for gallery use.

Quick FAQs for Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir

Planning a trip to the Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir in Reykjavík? You can easily visit them daily between 10:00 and 17:00, but don't bother trying to call or email them beforehand since those contact details are a well-kept secret. Luckily, finding their physical door at Flókagata 24 is much easier!

What are the weekend opening hours for Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir?

On weekends (Saturdays and Sundays), Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir is open from 10:00 to 17:00.

Does Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir have special opening hours?

There are no listed special opening hours or holiday closures at this time. The museum maintains its regular daily schedule of 10:00 to 17:00.

What are the opening hours of Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir?

Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00, Monday through Sunday.

What time does Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir close?

Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir closes at 17:00 every day of the week, including weekends.

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Photos of Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir

Images of the Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir in Iceland highlight its striking Nordic modernist architecture, featuring angular roof lines, light gray concrete facades, and a spacious paved courtyard. Previewing these photos prepares visitors for the venue's integration with Klambratún Park, showcasing outdoor abstract sculptures and clean, geometric structures.

Exterior view of the Kjarvalsstaðir museum building with a large dark abstract sculpture on a wet paved plaza under an overcast sky.

Low-rise brick museum building with multiple flagpoles and parked cars in front, viewed from across a road

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