The Icelandic Art Prize for 2024 was recently announced in Reykjavík, honoring outstanding visual artists and exhibitions. Amanda Riffo, born in 1977, was awarded Artist of the Year for her solo exhibition titled “House of Purkinje” at The Living Art Museum.
Curated by Sunna Ástþórsdóttir, “House of Purkinje” seamlessly weaves together various narratives, from theories of perception to reflections on the contemporary art world. Riffo’s exhibition not only showcases her talent for blending diverse themes into cohesive yet distorted pieces, but also humorously portrays every artist’s nightmare of running out of time during installation. Riffo, a French-Chilean artist based in Reykjavík since 2012, holds an MA in Fine Arts from École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts and has exhibited her works internationally.
The Motivational Award went to Brák Jónsdóttir for her exhibition “Possible Oddkin” at the Nordic House’s Greenhouse, while the Honorary Award was posthumously given to Hreinn Friðfinnsson, whose lifetime achievements were celebrated during the ceremony. Hildur Hákonardóttir’s exhibition “Red Thread” at the Reykjavík Art Museum received the Retrospective of the Year award, and “Tracing Fragments” at Gerðarsafn curated by Daría Sól Andrews was awarded Group Show of the Year. The Publication on Visual Art award went to “Art Can Heal: The Life and Work of Sigríður Björnsdóttir,” a book about the artist and art therapy innovator Sigríður Björnsdóttir.
For more information on the Icelandic Art Prize, visit their website.
