Listasan Íslands (National Gallery of Iceland, 1884-), 19th-20th Century Icelandic Art - Fríkirkjuvegur 7, 101 Reykjavík

[Tweaked]

The National Gallery of Iceland is a small art museum in Reykjavik, containing a collection of 19th and 20th century Icelandic art, along with periodic outside and traveling exhibitions.  The museum was originally founded in 1884 in Copenhagen.  In 1987, the collection was moved to its current building along Reykjavikurtjorn Lake.  It's a lovely, light filled building and worth a visit, which will take you about an hour or so.

Our conclusion was late 1800 and early 1900 Icelandic art...not that great.  Some of it dreadful.  But contemporary Icelandic art is now focusing on a host of challenges facing the island:  post-2008 economic issues, environmental issues, and development issues especially as Iceland becomes more of a tourist destination. 

The museum is several blocks away from the main tourist areas and on a Friday afternoon we had the place almost to ourselves.