Ragnhildur Gísladóttir named Reykjavík City Artist Laureate 2025

Ritstjórn
City Artist Laureate Ragnhildur Gísladóttir with Mayor Heiða B. Hilmisdóttir and Skúli Helgason, chair of the Culture, Sports and Recreation Council
City Artist Laureate Ragnhildur Gísladóttir with Mayor Heiða B. Hilmisdóttir and Skúli Helgason, chair of the Culture, Sports and Recreation Council.

Mayor Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir named musician Ragnhildur Gísladóttir as Reykjavík City Artist Laureate 2025 at a ceremony at Höfði today.

Left a distinctive mark on Icelandic arts and culture

The appointment is an honorary recognition for an artist whose creative work has stood out and left a distinctive mark on Iceland's arts scene. Skúli Helgason, chair of the Culture, Sports and Recreation Council, explained the Council's choice, which was unanimous this time in naming someone who has set an example by following their own convictions in art and life. The artist received an engraved stone, honorary certificate and prize money, and during the ceremony Bryndís Jakobsdóttir, Ragnhildur's daughter, and Lay Low performed music from Ragnhildur's repertoire.

Ragnhildur Gísladóttir was born in Reykjavík on Oct. 7, 1956. She graduated as a music teacher from the Reykjavík Music School, earned a bachelor's degree in composition from the Iceland Academy of the Arts in 2008 and a master's degree from the same school in 2013. She started her music career early and has captivated audiences for decades with her powerful voice, rich interpretation and emotional delivery. Through her songwriting and strong presence, she has left her mark on Icelandic culture in countless ways and is undeniably among the most recognizable and beloved names in Icelandic popular music.

Reykjavík City Artist Laureate Ragnhildur Gísladóttir receives the honorary certificate and flowers that Mayor Heiða B. Hilmisdóttir presented to her at today's ceremony at Höfði.
Ragnhildur Gísladóttir borgarlistamaður Reykjavíkur tekur við heiðursskjali og blómum sem Heiða B. Hilmisdóttir borgarstjóri afhenti henni í athöfninni í Höfða í dag.

Ragnhildur's career spans diverse works and collaborations with many of the biggest names in Icelandic music. She was a vocalist in the bands Brunaliðið, Grýlurnar and Stuðmenn and has appeared in many films, including On Top (Með allt á hreinu) and The Honor of the House (Ungfrúin góða og húsið). She is also a prolific composer, having written music for films, dance and theater and participated in various cultural festivals, such as Dark Music Days, Nordic Music Days and Reykjavík Dance Festival.

Pioneer and role model

Ragga Gísla, as she is usually called, has long been a pioneer in Iceland's music scene, especially for generations of Icelandic female singers. Many young women in music and other areas of daily life cite Ragnhildur as an inspiration and role model. She has encouraged them to find their own voice and stand by what matters to them.

In 2012, Ragnhildur received the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Falcon for her contribution to Icelandic music.