CONTACT:
BIO:
Ragnheiður Gestsdóttir is a multidisciplinary Icelandic artist heavily influenced by her background in visual anthropology. In her installations, sculptures, photos and films she critically explores the human desire for uniformity and absolute truths and their inherent failure. She does so by revealing the power structures, layers and cracks hidden under a desired glossy surface. She is interested in knowledge production and language and the impossibility of translation - be it across languages, cultures, times, places or individuals, focusing on the concealed and marginalized narratives that scaffold the dominant ones.
Ragnheiður is also a documentary filmmaker, she has worked with several artists and musicians, including Ragnar Kjartansson, Hreinn Friðfinnsson and Björk. Her films have been shown internationally at museums and galleries, film festivals, on TV as well as being released on DVD.
Ragnheiður received an MFA from Bard College in 2012 and an MA in Visual Anthropology from Goldsmiths College in 2001. She has exhibited her work at the Reykjavík Art Museum, Gerðarsafn Art Museum, Kunstschlager Gallery, The Living Art Museum and at the Sequences Art Festival in Reykjavík, Göteborgs Konsthall and Cecilia Hillström Gallery in Sweden, Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Soloway Gallery and Franklin Street Works in New York City, among other venues. Her work can be found in the collection of major museums in Iceland and private collections abroad.
CV:
EDUCATION
2010 - 2012 Bard College - Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts, MFA Fine Art
2009 - 2010 School Of Visual Arts, New York, MFA Fine Arts Department (one year)
2000 - 2001 Goldsmiths College, University of London, MA Visual Anthropology
1996 - 1999 University of Iceland, BA Anthropology
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2023
Átylla / Second Thoughts Solo show coming up at Gallerí Grótta in March, 2023
2022
The Wheel V Exhibition series of works in public space initiated by The Reykjavík Association of Sculptors, Reykjavík, Iceland
EKWC 3 month residency at the European Ceramic Work Center, Oisterwijk, Nederland
2021
Abrakadabra Reykjavík Art Museum, Iceland
Multiples Reykjanes Art Museum, Reykjanesbær, Iceland
Góðir gestir Cecilia Hillström Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
Is the Spirit aware of the Matter? The Living Art Museum, Reykjavík, Iceland
2018
The Journey Home Reykjavík Art Festival, Wind and Weather Gallery, Iceland
2017
The In, With and Between Us Gerðarsafn Art Museum, Kópavogur Iceland
2016
Artzine.is Solo show, Hótel Holt and the internet, Reykjavík, Iceland
KINGDOM, flora, fauna, fable Reykjavik Art Museum, Iceland
The Future We Remember Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, USA
Open House Beirut Art Residency, Lebanon
I Boreali Nordic Art Festival, Milan, Italy
2015
Speak Nearby Soloway Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Let me tell you a story Göteborgs Konsthall, Göteborg, Sweden
The Heart Beat Doma International Art Festival, Sofia, Bulgaria
Nowhere else Hjalteyri Factory, Iceland
Real Life Skaftfell, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
Kunstschlagerstofa Reykjavík Art Museum, Iceland
Development Hafnarborg Art Museum, Hafnarfjörður, Iceland
2014
Big Bang – What a Thang Solo show at Kunstschlager Gallery, Reykjavík
Little Noises Franklin Street Works, Connecticut, USA
Time and Time and Again The Living Art Museum, Reykjavík, Iceland
PLAY Soloway gallery in New York & The Living Art Museum, Iceland
Bring your own Beamer The Living Art Museum, Reykjavík, Iceland
2013
Loco Motion Solo show, Sequences Art Festival VI, Reykjavík, Iceland
Love The Willows, New York, USA
Pale Blue Dot Skaftfell – Bookstore Project Space, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
Parlor Show Smiðjustígur 10, Reykjavík Culture Night, Iceland
2012
Self Titled Bard MFA show, UBS Gallery, New York, USA
The Last Space The Webster Miami, Miami Beach, USA
Without Destination Reykjavík Art Museum, Iceland
Urban Legend Vaudeville Park Gallery, New York, USA
SELECTED FILMS
Time and Time and Again 16 mm film, 50 min. Documentary film on the life and art of Hreinn Friðfinnsson. Co-directed with Markús Þór Andrésson, 2014
As if We Existed 16 mm film, 30 min. Experimental film about Ragnar Kjartansson who represented Iceland at the Venice Biennale in 2009. 2011
Rangsælis Video, 11 min. Travel film shot while moving counter clockwise around Iceland in 2011
Steypa Video, 67 min. Documentary film about the creative process of six Icelandic artists. Co-directed with Markús Þór Andrésson, 2007
Versations Tetralógía Video, 30 min. Documentary about Gabríela Friðriksdóttir who represented Iceland at the Venice Biennale, 2005
Inner or Deep Part of
an Animal or Plant Structure Video, 50 min. A film about the creative process behind the making of Björk’s Medúlla album, 2004
Minuscule Video, 75 min. A documentary film about Björk’s Vespertine tour, her creative process and co-workers, 2002
Niceland Video and found footage, 19 min. Experimental portrait of the visual representation of a nation, 2001
GRANTS, RESIDENCIES
2021 The Iceland Visual Arts Fund, research grant
Obras Arts Foundation, art residency in Portugal
2020 Artist salary grant, Iceland Ministry of Culture and Education
The Iceland Visual Arts Fund, project grant
Muggur, travel grant
Icelandic Art Center, travel grant
2019 Artist salary grant, Iceland Ministry of Culture and Education
2017 Artist salary grant, Iceland Ministry of Culture and Education
The Iceland Visual Arts Fund, project grant
2016 Beirut Art Residency, Lebanon
Artist salary grant, Iceland Ministry of Culture and Education
Icelandic Art Center, travel grant
2015 Myndstef, project grant
The Iceland Visual Arts Fund, project grant
Skaftfell, art residency at Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
2013 BANFF Arts Center, art residency in Canada
Skaftfell, art residency at Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
The Iceland Visual Arts Fund, project grant
Icelandic Film Fund, production grant
MEDIA Film Fund, production grant
Nordic Film and TV Fund, production grant
2012 Bard College, fellowship grant
2011 Myndstef v/Eins og við værum
Bard College, fellowship grant
2010 American Scandinavian Foundation, Thor Thors Grant
The Guðmunda Andrésdóttir support fund, education gant
Bard College, fellowship grant
2008 Icelandic Film Fund, production grant
2007 Icelandic Film Fund, scriptwriting grant
Icelandic Art Center, project grant
2005 Icelandic Film Fund, production grant