Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir is one of Iceland's best loved artists; she has been working as a sculptor for 43 years. Her sculpture 'Directions' is one of the first things to greet you upon arrival in Iceland's International airport, Keflavik and her works features prominentantly in public spaces across the island.
Educated in England and Italy, Steinunn has exhibited worldwide with solo shows in Iceland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, the UK, Germany, Canada and USA, in museums, galleries and public places. Steinunn has participated in numerous group exhibitions worldwide.
Her 12 piece public art exhibition Horizons' travelled to 10 different venues in the USA between 2007 until 2019 when it was acquired by a permanent collection in Canada.
Steinunn ́s 22 piece public art exhibition Borders was first exhibited in 2011 at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza by the United Nations Headquarters, in collaboration with New York City Public Parks. Borders is now in it ́s 9th venue in the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis. During it ́s final week in Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, the President of the Friends of Dag Hammarskjöld said in a press release “Borders has become a uniquely unifying element in our diverse neighborhood, The elegant humanity of the works has been embraced by our community, both figuratively and literally—awaking a spirit of compassion, humor and contemplation. Steinunn’s installation has generated an unprecedented response.”
In 2018, Steinunn ́s public art show Armors was exhibited in Fort Tryon Park, New York City and was featured in the New York Times as one of eight most exciting public art installations in New York City. It was staged in collaboration with NYC Parks Public Art Program and the Arms and Armour Department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art utilizing medieval pieces from the Met ́s permanent collection.
Steinunn’s most recent exhibition Wayfinders at the National Nordic Museum in Seattle opens on 14th July and runs until 5th November 2023. 13 life size sculptures will greet the visitor to the museum and guide them through its collection. Over 30 of Steinunn’s watercolours, an integral part of her creative progress, will also be on view.
Steinunn ́s work is in many prominent public and private collections worldwide. Among them are The National Gallery of Iceland, the City of Reykjavík, the collection of Carl XVI Gustav, the King of Sweden, the State Hospital in Copenhagen, the Danish Banker ́s Association, Kathryn Hall Vineyards in California, Royal Carribbean, Cliff Lede Vineyards, the Estate of Sir Rocco and Lady Forte in England, the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, the City of Hull in England, Elgiz Museum, Istanbul, Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, the Brauer Museum, USA, Leif Eriksson International Airport, University of Hull, Mission Hill Family Estate, BC, Canada, Hall Arts in Dallas Art District, the City of Copenhagen, the City of Thorshavn, Faroe Islands, Cawdor Castle in Scotland, The Skyscraper Centre Boston and Georgia Museum of Art in USA.
From 2009 to 2013 Steinunn was on the Board of Directors at the International Sculpture Center, USA. She was chairman of the Icelandic Association of Sculptors 1985-1987. Member of the board of the National Gallery of Iceland 1994-1997, Member of the board of the Visual Art Committee of the Ministry of Culture 2001-2003.
Steinunn has received many awards and grants in her over 40 year career among them are an Honorary Doctorate from Hull University, UK and the Order of the Falcon granted by the President of Iceland for her contribution to the visual arts in Iceland and abroad.
Her art has been featured in many publications among them are The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Art Newspaper, artnetNews, The Times in London, Sculpture Magazine, Sunday Telegraph in Australia, Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, Where Magazine to name a few. A CINE award winning documentary was released about Steinunn ́s work in 2008, by American filmmaker Frank Cantor, titled 'Horizons', The Art of Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir. A recent documentary by ARTE TV in Germany was premiered on April 28th 2019.
Education:
Portsmouth College of Art and Design, Portsmouth, England 1974-1975
BA Honors in Fine Art, University of Portsmouth, England 1976 - 1979
The Academy of Fine Art, Bologna, Italy. 1979 – 1980