Dear Representatives!

The Living Art Museum reminds you of its annual meeting on Tuesday, 20th of May at 17:00. The meeting takes place at the museum's premises on the second floor of the Marshall House, Grandagarður 20, 101 Reykjavík. Light refreshments will be served. Please note that the meeting will mostly be in Icelandic.

Meeting agenda

1. Report of the Board 
2. Annual Accounts of 2024
3.  New members listed
4. Presentation of candidates
5. Election of the Board - Chairman, four members of the board and three deputy members are elected.
   
   

BREAK (counting of votes)

1. Budget for the year 2025 presented and annual fee 2026 decided
2. Election results announced
3. Other issues
   
   

Election:

• All seats on the board and the deputy board are vacant. The Chairman will be elected for one year, four members on the main board are elected for two years each, and three deputies will be elected for one year each.
• Members who have paid the annual fee of 4.300 ISK for the year 2025 can vote. The claim for the annual fee has been sent to your online bank. It will also be possible to pay the fee at the meeting.
• Members who want to vote but can not attend the meeting can vote via phone. We ask those members to send their phone number and name to nylo(at)nylo.is before the 20th of May.
• Calls start at 17:00, at the beginning of the meeting. Two representatives of Nýló will be shop stewards, calling for and recording the phone votes.
• Two other representatives of Nýló will count the votes at the meeting. 
• The four representatives, counting and recording the phone votes, will be presented for members at the beginning of the meeting.
• If the votes for two or more members are equal, the meeting will vote again and then only between those candidates who received the same number of votes.
• The candidates who received the most votes will be elected.
  

Members can announce their candidacy to Nýló's office by sending an e-mail to nylo(at)nylo.is or at the beginning of the meeting.

Below, you can read more in-depth about the announced candidates:

Chairman (1 seat):

H.K. Rannversson

"I started coming to Nýló in 2008 when the museum was at Laugarvegur 26 and was completely fascinated. Nýló is a space unlike any other cultural institution. Here there is open access to art; memorable exhibitions, a collection that you can rummage through and, not least, artists who want to have a conversation. This experience planted a seed in my head that is still germinating.

I soon became a member and later worked on an extensive research- and exhibition project for the museum about the legacy of Gallery Suðurgata 7. This resulted in a book and exhibition, S7 - Suðurgata >> Árbær (not in service), a collaboration with the Reykjavík City Museum and the Reykjavík Arts Festival 2014. The following year I was elected to the deputy board and served until 2017 (the museum's first year in Marshall House). That year I also worked part-time at Nýló for a few months. At the same time, I worked on a two-part exhibition, READ THROUGH - artworks in bookform from the collection, for the collection space in Breiðholt.

Through this work, I gained important knowledge of the internal and external operations of the museum, of its history and collection. The Living Art Museum has had a decisive influence on my work as an art historian and curator, while I have also been able to put my mark on the museum. That is precisely the core of Nýló: A museum that is based on open dialogue, collaboration that always puts art first.

Nýló has sought to address the void that arises in the artworld at any given time and fill it with fertile ideas: Whether it is creating an exhibition space for a new generation and unconventional media, collecting progressive art or creating a platform for dialogue and international collaboration.

In 2028, the museum will celebrate its 50th anniversary and will have been in Marshall House for more than 10 years. 

I am ready to put all my energy into making The Living Art Museum a vibrant space for art. With my candidacy, I want to start a conversation about the priorities of Nýló; how we fill the void, create fertile ground and allow the museum to grow and thrive in the years to come.

LET'S TEAR DOWN THE WALL BETWEEN OFFICE AND EXHIBITION SPACE!

Conversation comes first. Let's create a platform for collaboration, bridge the gap between generations and welcome new artists. Let's mobilize Nýló’s members and make use of their knowledge and experience.

LET'S CHANGE THE EXHIBITION SPACE, IF NECESSARY. LET ART MAKE THE DECISIONS!

Exhibitions reflect the museum’s identity. Let's increase the ambitions of the exhibition program, present international art on an equal footing with local art and create connections between institutions and artists beyond borders.

LET'S MAKE THE COLLECTION AND ARCHIVES MORE ACCESSIBLE!

The collection is the foundation. We need to talk about the future of the collection in all seriousness. Let's look for solutions to preserve 50 years of cultural heritage without it being behind closed doors.”

H.K. Rannversson is an art historian and independent curator. He was Head of Exhibitions at North Atlantic House in Copenhagen 2018-2022, and Head of Public Programs at Reykjavik Art Museum 2013-16. He has been a lecturer at Iceland University of the Arts since 2015 and has tutored at the Reykjavík School of Visual Arts and University of Iceland.

As an independent curator, Rannversson has worked on exhibition projects for Akureyri Art Museum, National Gallery of Iceland, Hafnarborg - Centre of Culture and Fine Art, Gerðarsafn – Kópavogur Art Museum, Reykjavik Association of Sculptors and Icelandic Art Center. These include exhibitions such as: Outside looking in, inside looking out, a collaboration between the Icelandic Art Center and the Icelandic Embassies (New York, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Oslo, Paris and Tokyo, 2023-25); Queen of Hearts – Sóley Ragnarsdóttir (Gerðarsafn and Augustiana, Denmark, 2024); Numbers, Places – Þór Vigfússon (Gerðarsafn and Y Gallery, 2024); Discotheque (Hafnarborg, 2021); HIGH & LOW – Contemporary art from Iceland (Nordatlantens Brygge, 2018); GONE WITH THE WIND – part 1. of the outdoor art exhibition series, the WHEEL (Reykjavik Association of Sculptors and Reykjavík Arts Festival, 2018); NORMALITY IS THE NEW AVANT-GARDE (Gerðarsafn, 2017); D24: RATE OF RETURN% (Reykjavík Art Museum – Hafnarhús, 2016) and Yearning for Space (Reykjavík Art Museum – Ásmundarsafn, 2015).

He has also held various positions of trust; served on the board of the ASÍ Art Musuem2017-21, was chairman of the Association of Art History and Theory in Iceland 2023-24, where he was appointed to a working group on the future vision of the National Gallery of Iceland by the Ministry of Education and Culture. He also sits on the acquisitions committee of the Reykjavík Art Museum 2023-25.

Heiðar Kári studied Architecture at the Royal Academy of Copenhagen, received a BA in Art History from the University of Iceland, and completed an MA in Artistic Research from the University of Amsterdam in 2012.

Helena Solveigar Aðalsteinsbur (they/them)

Dear friends in the arts and all who love Nýló,

It is with great excitement that I put myself forward as chair of the board of The Living Art Museum. My focus is clear: artists must be at the center. I want exhibitions that are experimental, provocative, and inspirational.

After ten years in Amsterdam and London, where I founded an artist-run space and curated for institutions such as Southbank Centre, I return home inspired, with tools and deep commitment to Nýló. My work as both an artist and curator gives me valuable insight into creative processes as well as the operations of art spaces.

I am driven by collaboration, curiosity, and ambition. With a BA in Fine Art from the Iceland University of the Arts, I went on to study curating at Raw Academie in Senegal and earned an MA in Curating and Cultural Management from Central Saint Martins in London in 2019. Since then, I have worked as a curator at Camden Art Centre, Southbank Centre, and Hayward Gallery in London, producing exhibitions with artists such as Ai Weiwei, Sophia Al-Maria, Jeremy Deller, and the Palestinian Sound Archive.

Alongside international work, I have remained active in the Icelandic art scene in roles such as artist, curator, and project manager. I’ve collaborated with Kling & Bang, Komd’inn at Gerðarsafn, served as director of the LungA Art Festival, and founded the Laumulistasamsteypan. With that collective, I co-created the Nýló exhibition Coffee Break, a concept I would love to revisit as chair. I want to bring the coffee mugs from Breiðholt, keep a warm pot in the entryway, and turn the museum into a welcoming social hub for Reykjavík’s art scene.

I approach this role with experience in running festivals and artist-led spaces, and with the perspective of someone who has worked both inside and outside institutions. I am running because Nýló is my favorite exhibition space not only for its radical history, but also its potential for groundbreaking contemporary art.

Having a practicing artist as chair ensures that artists’ voices are not just heard but shape the direction of the museum. This strengthens ties to the community and deepens the museum’s vision. I want to support responsible and forward-looking development, rooted in the grassroots and connected to global conversations.

I want Nýló to be the most exciting place to see contemporary art in Iceland. A space where new directions emerge and thrive. A place where artists, curators, and art lovers can take creative risks together. I look to institutions I’ve worked with, such as the ICA in London, which for decades has nurtured marginal voices and acted as a home for artists of all generations.

I want to deepen visitor engagement through thoughtful programming. The reading group is a strong foundation, and I envision expanding the bookshop, holding regular soup nights, launching an annual performance series, and screening video art alongside exhibitions. I want to work with ambitious curators and emerging artists and use my international network to bring in artists who have never shown in Iceland to engage with the local scene.

I regularly explore Nýló’s collection for inspiration. It is an invaluable cultural archive that deserves care and visibility, both within the museum and through partnerships across the country. I would work closely with the excellent collection team to secure its future. Nýló is one of the oldest artist-run spaces in Europe. Its history and grassroots energy make it a powerful international partner. I want to activate this potential through collaborative projects, festivals, conferences, and cross-border connections.

Exhibitions like the GRASRÓT series had a deep impact on me. One of my favorite Nýló stories comes from 1981, when a newspaper criticised a performance for “breaking all records in foolishness,” wondering if boiling water could be art. That kind of provocation sparks dialogue, and I welcome it.

With all this, I want to work toward keeping Nýló a dynamic and experimental space where artists are at the center of everything. I’ll be bringing in new energy, a dash of mischief, and lots of love!

With great excitement,
Helena Solveigar Aðalsteinsbur (they/them)

Odda Júlía Snorradóttir (she)

It is with great pleasure that I am running for the Chair of the board of the Living Art Museum, with the interests of artists and art itself at the forefront! The Living Art Museum plays an incredibly important role and provides crucial nourishment for the development and progress of visual art in Iceland. The original goals of the Living Art Museum, collecting and exhibiting that and those that don’t get a place elsewhere, are still important and relevant. It is our role to be alert and follow what is happening both here and internationally. Nýló should be a living open conversation with the world around us!

I bring both great passion and experience to the table. I have a BA in Art History and an MA in Curation from the University of Iceland. I have curated exhibitions in Nýló, the Nordic House, Hafnarborg, Estonia and in Romania. I am furthermore one of the founders of the Icelandic Drawing Center. I have extensive experience in international collaborations through my work as a Managing Director of Sequences, my work at Nýló and as a freelance curator. I have taken on roles within all the departments of Nýló, first as collection’s manager, then general manager and now as interim director. I know the inner flow of the museum well and recognise all the most vital processes and obstacles. This experience has provided a unique insight into where Nýló has the potential to grow even further. Now I want to bring this insight into play to actively shape the museums directions and goals:

Open and active conversation:

The members of Nýló are its core. In this unique community generations meet, mediums, interests and expertise meet. Together we create a vast net within the art world that makes it possible for the museum to catch both exciting new currents and that which is at risk of falling out of frame. I want to grow this diverse group and ensure an open active conversation.

• I want to increase visibility and accessibility of members to LIMBÓ, a space that is intended to be a place where members can react to the current and now.
• I want to have more member’s meetings. We recently started an event series where members get the chance to come and tell their stories of the museum. This is a part of our research and documentation program for the 50 year anniversary of the Living Art Museum.
  

Exhibitions

As an artist-run museum Nýló can and should allow itself to take on larger artistic challenges than other art institutions. I aim to create an environment in Nýló where artists can work toward their practice without having to compromise! Where artistic boundaries are pushed and traditions can be challenged. I aim to create a safe and accessible space for experimental work that is inviting to new currents in contemporary art, a space that facilitates artists and encourages them to take risks, where the unexpected is welcomed.

• I want to reach out to members more frequently.
• I want to seek and bring in fresh current from abroad.
• I want to lead surprising voices together, lift those up that have not been in the spotlight for a long time or have never gotten the chance to.
  
  

Collection and Archive

The Living Art Museum’s collection and archives is the autobiography of contemporary Icelandic art and is as such a unique source and documentation of Icelandic art. It is, like the museum itself, a polymorph that corresponds to the needs of the times. Introspection is an important part of this process. Does the collection and archive successfully serve its role? How has it changed and what is that role now?

• I want to find fresh perspectives within our archive by inviting diverse curators, artists, members and scholars to work with it.
• I want to increase accessibility to the archive with regular open days.
• I will bring full force to the negotiations with both the city council and the government regarding improved facilities for the archive that keeps on growing!
  

Finance

Through my experience as a staff member of Nýló I have been able to locate how and where the museum can increase its finances.

• This year we managed to negotiate for increased financial support from the ministry. In continuum of that I want to work towards an increased predictability and safety by negotiating more long term contracts.
• I want to continue to shape and grow our collaborations with international institutions, such collaborations makes it possible to apply to international grants and with the finance larger international exhibitions.
• I want to activate the Friends of Nýló program as I see that as a potential for opportunities we can develop further.
  

It is with confidence, great care and passion that I offer myself as a Chair of the board of the Living Art Museum.

Board (4 seats):

Anna Andrea Winther

I have been on the deputy board for the past year, and I am now running for a place on the main board of The Living Art Museum. I have over that time been a part of various projects within Nýló and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I want to continue my work in the museum and continue contributing to the fine art sector in Iceland. 

Anna Andrea Winther (b. 1993) lives and works in Reykjavík. She graduated with an MFA in fine art from Glasgow School of Art in 2022 and a BA in fine art from Iceland University of the Arts in 2018. Anna will graduate with a teacher’s license from the University of Iceland this summer. Since graduating in 2018 Anna has worked independently as an artist, worked on various projects and in collaboration with other artists. Alongside her practice she works with children and young people. She has for the past year been on the deputy board of the Living Art Museum and is running for a place on the board.

Joe Keys

I have been on the board of Nýlo for the last two years. In my time, I have thoroughly enjoyed the position, it has led to working on multiple exhibitions and getting to know the collection in more detail. I am passionate about Icelandic art both past and present, and would gladly continue as a member of the board.

Sadie Cook

Sadie Cook (B. 1997) has published and shown nationally and internationally, including an upcoming solo exhibition at Hafnarhús as part of an artist duo with Jo Pawlowska. Sadie has photographs in books held by MOMA, the Tate, and the Met. They have been a guest critic at Yale, Harvard, and NYU.

Sadie graduated Yale in 2020, and received a Fulbright to Iceland in 2021. They have been based in Iceland ever since. Sadie lives in Reykjavik with their partner Diljá. Sadie runs Gallery Kannski and is on the deputy board of Nýlistasafnið.

They have enjoyed their time on the board. Their hope is to give back to a community and space that they believe is important. They are experienced in installation, construction, documentation and grant writing.

Þorsteinn Freyr Fjölnisson (He/Him)

Þorsteinn Freyr Fjölnisson (1993) is a curator and a reception manager at the Reykjavík Art Museum. He graduated with a BA in art history and theory from the University of Iceland in 2021 and MLitt in curatorial practice from the Glasgow School of Art in 2022. He has worked as a reception manager at the Reykjavík Art Museum since 2022, while also undertaking curatorial projects, for example, an exhibition for Logi Leó in gallery d in Hafnarhús, Vitamin-D at Hafnarhús, Listalestin at Hvolsvöllur and is currently working with the artist Kristín Helga Ríkharðsdóttir for an exhibition at Hafnarhús that opens in 2026. 

In his curatorial studies, Þorsteinn focused on accessibility for minority and fringe groups at art museums and how to increase accessibility. He claims this is in keeping with the work of Nýlistasafnið, which mirrors the modern day and contributes to increased accessibility to the arts.

Deputy Board (3 seats):

Deepa R. Iyengar

I have been serving on the board of Nýló since 2023, and am now seeking a deputy position. At present, I represent Nýló on the Sequences 2025 board, and am co-curating a show of Deaf Icelandic artists for 2026.

I have been, and will continue to be, focused on promoting inclusion of artists from underrepresented groups in Nýló’s selections. At the same time, I have gained appreciation for the board’s role to support opportunities to reflect upon Nýló’s collection in order to add new perspectives to Icelandic contemporary art history. It is challenging and interesting to coordinate these two missions.

About me: I am a visual artist living in Iceland since 2006, coming originally from the U.S., of Indian heritage. In 2023, I graduated with an M.A. in fine art from Listaháskóli Íslands. In Iceland, in addition to group shows during my graduate study (Verksmiðjan á Hjalteyri, the Einar Jónsson Museum, and Nýlistasafnið), I have shown work in venues including Reykjavík Art Museum - Hafnarhús, Kling&Bang, Gryfjan in Ásmundarsalur (as part of the artist collective D.N.A.), Gallery Kannski, Hamraborg festival, the Reykjavik Winter Festival, and Raflost festival.

Sigríður Regína Sigurþórsdóttir

I offer myself for continued service on the deputy board of the Living Art Museum. I have been involved in the work of the museum for about five years, initially assisting in the collection and later as Collection Manager from 2022-2024, before joining the deputy board. I am a time based media preservation specialist currently pursuing a PhD in art theory at the University of Iceland. I care deeply about Nýló’s collection, and contributing to its artistic direction and dynamic exhibition program has been rewarding for me. I’m committed to the museum, am grateful for the trust that has been placed in me so far and hope to continue contributing to Nýló’s vision and activities.

Outgoing board
Sunna Ástþórsdóttir - chairman
Guðlaug Mía Eyþórsdóttir- vice chairman
Joe Keys - Treasurer
Deepa Iyengar - secretary
Lukas Bury - member of the board

Outgoing deputy board
Anna Andrea Winther
Sadie Cook
Sigríður Regína Sigurþórsdóttir

According to Article 6 in the charter, the board of The Living Art Museum hires an individual who is responsible for the museum's full-time or part-time activities, as well as other staff. The elected board will therefore consider the selection and hiring of a new museum director following the annual meeting.

A warm welcome to all members!

The image following is from Claudia Hausfeld's exhibition ANTECHAMBER. Photograph by Sister Lumière.