Tryggvi Ólafsson

Born: 1940 in Neskaupstadur, Iceland. Optimism, clarity and humor are the keywords. Tryggvi Ólafsson works with clean surfaces. because interchanging fabric effects would blur his clear imagery. A certain vibration of a colour forms the ‘fabric’ of the picture. With strong artistic discipline he spans his pictures, so that the elements are like shouting to each other – and to us

Background & Exhibitions

Education

1960-61 The State’s School of Arts and Crafts
1961-66 Art Academy, Copenhagen

Selected Exhibitions

1963 Debut, the Artists’ Autumn Exhibition
1966 Galerie Jensen (with Erik Magnussen)
1969-79 Several joint exhibitions with other Icelandic artist in Iceland
1969-77 Five solo exhibitions in Galleri SÚM, Iceland Numerous solo exhibitions in Iceland and Denmark, Group exhibition in all the Nordic capitals plus the Netherlands, Germany, France and England.
1970-80 Exhibitions with the group ‘Den Nordiske’
1989 Charlottenborg’s Autumn Exhibition
1999 Participation in the Transcentury China International Exhibition, Quingdao, China
1992-2003 Galleri Krebsen, Copenhagen
2005 Husavik, Iceland. Gudhjem, Bornholm. Vence, France
2010 Retrospective exhibition, ‘Nordatlantens Brygge, Copenhagen

Decorations etc.

Has decorated buildings in Iceland and Denmark
Represented in 16 art museums in the Nordic countries

Films and books

He has illustrated numerous books and poetry collections
1976 He makes a documentary film about his teacher S. Hjorth Nielsen – together with the film director H. H. Jørgensen
1987 An Icelandic film company makes a TV film about him with the title: “Structure, balance, colour”
2001 The year after his 60th birthday a museum over his works are opened in Neskaupstadur, Iceland. The ring is closed.

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