Kristján H. Magnússon – The Forgotten Artist

Kristján H. Magnússon was among the most notable artists of the Icelandic nation in the first part of the 20thcentury— but for decades, he has received almost no attention. Unlike most other Icelanders of his time, he studied at an art school in the United States, and became the first Icelandic artist to hold solo exhibitions in major foreign cities. Kristján was an innovator in Icelandic landscape painting in the way that he purposefully interpreted the land in its winter attire.

Major foreign newspapers praised Kristján’s exhibitions and artworks, but at home in Iceland, he faced adversity. His career was short, only about ten years, and he died in 1937, only 34 years old.

Kristján H. Magnússon: The Forgotten Artist is a true treasure; a worthy memorial to a young man from a small town in Iceland who, with great ambition, followed unusual paths to reach the ultimate heights in his art.  

Published on May 23, 2025