Markús Þór Andrésson named new director of Reykjavík Art Museum

Markús Þór holds a Master’s degree in Curatorial Studies from the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College in the United States and a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the Iceland University of the Arts. Seven candidates applied for the position, with one withdrawing during the process.

Markús Þór brings deep and varied expertise in museum operations—particularly within Reykjavík Art Museum—where he has curated exhibitions, overseen publications, and actively promoted the museum’s work through writing, public lectures, guided tours, and academic engagement. He has also led international collaborations, including the exhibition North and Down. As head of division, he has been a member of the museum’s leadership team and served as deputy director.

Alongside his role at the museum, he has worked extensively as an independent curator for museums and galleries both in Iceland and abroad. Among his most prominent projects is Perspectives, a landmark 2015 exhibition at the House of Collections. This permanent exhibition on Icelandic visual art was the result of collaboration between six cultural institutions. He also curated the Icelandic Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2009 and served on the curatorial team for the Nordic Biennial Momentum in 2011. Beyond curating, Markús Þór has published widely on the visual arts, edited several books, taught part-time, and is a regular speaker at conferences. He has also explored artistic expression through documentary filmmaking and television programs focused on fine art.

The hiring committee—comprising Steinþór Einarsson, Reykjavík City’s Director of Culture and Sports; Auður Jörundsdóttir, director of the Visual Arts Center; Hulda Stefánsdóttir, visual artist and assistant rector for research at the Iceland University of the Arts; and consultants from the Vinnvinn recruitment firm—unanimously concluded that Markús Þór meets the City’s criteria with distinction. They cited his broad knowledge of the museum field, proven leadership, and strong initiative as key assets in guiding Iceland’s largest art museum into its next phase.

His contract runs for five years, with the option to extend for an additional five years. He succeeds Ólöf Kristín Sigurðardóttir, who is retiring after a decade of service.