Einar Jónsson Museum and Sculpture Garden, Reykjavik

The Einar Jónsson Museum holds a unique place in Iceland’s cultural history as the country’s first public art museum, completed in 1923. It is dedicated to Einar Jónsson, regarded as Iceland’s first sculptor. Born on a farm in southern Iceland in 1874, Jónsson pursued his artistic ambitions abroad, studying in Denmark and later in Rome before returning. In 1909, he reached an agreement with the Icelandic parliament: the state would provide him with a museum and home, and in return, he would donate all his works.

Inside, the museum displays around 300 sculptures, primarily created in plaster—a practical choice in Iceland, where traditional modeling clay was not readily available, and one that allowed him to refine his pieces over long periods. Jónsson rejected classical conventions, developing a personal style shaped by Nordic folklore, Christian symbolism, and figurative themes. His works often explore life, death, and transformation through expressive, symbolic forms. Visitors can also access the artist’s apartment above the museum, where he lived until his death in 1954, offering a glimpse into his daily life.

The adjacent sculpture garden presents 26 bronze works, including The Wave of Ages, The King of Atlantis, and Thor Wrestling with Age. Set on a sloping hillside, the garden invites visitors to move freely among the sculptures, where shifting light and weather continuously reshape their appearance.