Museum Night 2025

5 PM
GUIDED TOUR WITH PHOTOGRAPHER AND WRITER EINAR FALUR INGÓLFSSON

Intimacies of the Everyday: Photographs by Agnieszka Sosnowska, Joakim Eskildsen, Niall McDiarmid, Orri Jónsson, and Sally Mann. The exhibition features more than 60 photographs by renowned international contemporary artists, including Agnieszka Sosnowska, Joakim Eskildsen, Niall McDiarmid, Orri Jónsson, and Sally Mann. The exhibition is curated by Pari Stave, head curator for exhibitions at the National Gallery of Iceland.

The works in Intimacies of the Everyday were selected from discrete series within each artist’s practice and represent decades-long and ongoing preoccupations with photographing the people and places closest to home. The exhibition is organized around the unifying idea that certain images can only be achieved by close, attentive, and sustained observation. The works in the exhibition speak eloquently to the photographers’ intimate familiarity with their subjects and thus the intrinsic tenderness in their approach.

Attn. the tour will be held in Icelandic.

6 PM
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PAINTING IS CREATED? AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?

The visual artist Birgir Snæbjörn Birgisson will explore with the guests several carefully selected paintings at the exhibition Looking Inward, Looking Outward: 140 years of the National Gallery of Iceland. The discussion will focus on what happens when a painting is created and why it matters. The newly released book by writer and critic Martin Gayford on the subject will be referenced.

Atten. the tour will be held in Icelandic.

8 PM - ??
GIN BAR SPONSORED BY SPIRITS OF ICELAND

Spirits of Iceland introduces "Gin Móa distilled" a harmonious blend of wild herbs handpicked from the vast and enchanting moors of Iceland. This isn't just another gin, it's a voyage into the untouched wilderness of the Icelandic landscape and distilled into a bottle.

8:30 PM TO 10:30
DJ DÓRA JÚLÍA

Let's dance! We had so much fun last year that we're doing it again, inviting Museum Night guests to come dance with us as the vibrant DJ Dóra Júlía keeps our spirits high!

5:30 PM
GHOST STORIES AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ICELAND
Dagrún Ósk Jónsdóttir, folklorist, will talk about ghosts and the different types of ghosts found in Iceland, such as revenants, spirits, abandoned infants, and farm ghosts. Several carefully selected ghost stories will be shared. Dagrún will also teach us various practical tips, such as how to recognize ghosts on a traveled path, how to raise them, and how to rid oneself of their hauntings. All are welcome who dare!

Attn. the tour will be held in Icelandic.

GDRN AND MAGNÚS JÓHANN: CONCERT AT THE HOUSE OF COLLECTIONS
The singer Guðrún Ýr Eyfjörð, better known as GDRN, and pianist Magnús Jóhann Ragnarsson are well-known to most Icelanders, having made a significant impact on the music scene in recent years. At this concert, they will perform songs from their albums as well as original compositions by both artists. The concert starts at 7:30 PM and will last approximately one hour.

GDRN has made a strong mark on the Icelandic music scene since releasing her debut album, Hvað ef (What if), in 2018. That album received numerous music awards, a nomination for the Nordic Music Prize, and widespread acclaim. Since then, she has released several songs in collaboration with other artists as well as two additional solo albums: GDRN in 2020 and Frá mér til þín (From Me to You) in 2024.

Magnús Jóhann Ragnarsson has been highly active in Icelandic music in recent years as a pianist, producer, composer, and more, collaborating with numerous artists. He has released eight albums under his own name and two EPs. He was named Performer of the Year at the Icelandic Music Awards in 2023.