GUNNAR ÖRN GUNNARSSON (1946-2008)
(IS)
PUBLISHED 16.5.2014
G57A LINK TO A MEMORY ED 1008
G57B LINK TO A MEMORY ED 1008
G57C LINK TO A MEMORY ED 1008
G57FF FIRST DAY COVERED ED 26
G56 DISA ED 550
G56FF FIRST DAY COVERED 24
Artstamp.dk is excited to introduce four Artstamps featuring the work of the late Icelandic artist Gunnar Örn Gunnarsson (1946–2008). A self-taught artist, Gunnar Örn became one of Iceland’s most prominent artistic figures both in his homeland and internationally. His talent was first recognized by Guggenheim Museum curator Edward F. Fry, who became an early supporter of his work.
Gunnar Örn's art in the 1980s stood apart from the abstract style favored by many of his Icelandic contemporaries, including his close friend Olafur Eliasson. While Eliasson became his student, Örn’s style remained deeply connected to nature and the human experience. Örn’s ability to transform landscape elements—whether symbolic, metaphorical, or naturalistic—was something that profoundly influenced Eliasson. Eliasson reflects on their friendship, stating, "It was Gunnar’s ability to transform landscape forms, whether symbolic, metaphoric, or naturalistic, that taught me not only to see the world around me but to consider our movement through the landscape as an inseparable part of it."
Living in Kambur, Iceland, Örn maintained a close relationship with the landscape and wildlife, which deeply influenced his works. His art was showcased at significant international events, including the Bienal de São Paulo in 1985 and the Venice Biennale in 1989. His works are now part of public collections in esteemed institutions like the National Gallery of Iceland, the Seibu Museum in Tokyo, the Guggenheim Museum in New York, and the Moderna Museet in Stockholm.
Örn's exhibitions included prominent galleries such as Moeller Fine Art in New York (1985, 1989) and Stalke Gallery in Denmark (1996, 2000, 2004, and 2007). His work was also featured in international art fairs like Art Basel, and he had exhibitions at Moeller Fine Art in Berlin (2010, 2014).
The Artstamps collection, titled Link to a Memory, draws its name from Örn’s final exhibition at Stalke Gallery in 2007, marking the lasting impact of his powerful connection to the natural world.
