Lilja Birgisdóttir Icelandic, b. 1983

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Overview
Lilja Birgisdóttir
"Lilja Birgisdóttir works across photography, performance, and installation to explore transformation, materiality, and the poetics of the everyday - often drawing attention to what is overlooked, discarded, or ephemeral."

Lilja Birgisdóttir (b. 1983) is an Icelandic artist based in Reykjavík who works across photography, performance, video, sound, and installation. She studied photography at the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague (2007) and later earned a BA in Fine Art from the Iceland Academy of the Arts (2010). Since then, she has been closely involved with the artist-run gallery Kling & Bang in Reykjavík and co-founded Endemi, an art magazine focused on contemporary Icelandic art.

 

Lilja’s work explores transformation, the handmade, and sustainability, often combining photography with materials like oil paint, resin, plants, and found objects. She is a member of the international art collective Fischersund.  Established in 2017, Fischersund is a family-run art collective and perfumery based in Reykjavik, Iceland. Founded by four siblings, Inga, Jónsi, Sigurrós, and Lilja, Fischersund serves as a creative platform using scent, visual arts and music. Fischersund makes immersive experiences that include unique perfumes, scented concerts and visual arts to facilitate their storytelling.

 

Recent exhibitions include Faux Flora at the National Nordic Museum, Seattle (2024-25), It’s Not You It’s Me at Þula (2022), and Gróður at Berg Contemporary (2020). In 2024, she collaborated with Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir on Hlutskipti / Fated at Þula. In 2015, she held solo shows at Rawson Projects (New York) and Jacqueline Falcone B&B (Miami), and participated in the NADA Art Fair in New York. In 2025, she exhibited at Market Art Fair in Stockholm with Þula.

 

A notable earlier project includes The Vessel Orchestra, the opening act of the Reykjavík Art Festival in 2013, created in collaboration with 15 ship captains in Reykjavík Harbour. Lilja has also produced photographic work for artists such as Damien Rice and Sigur Rós.

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Works
Biography
Lilja Birgisdóttir

Exhibitions

2025 - Þverskurður / Cross Section, Þula Gallerí, Reykjavík (Group exhibition)

2024 - Faux Flora, curated by Leslie Anderson, The Nordic Museum, Seattle, USA (as Fischersund Art Collective)

2024 - Hlutskipti / Fated, Þula Gallery, Reykjavík (with Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir)

2023 - Scent and Sound, Le Poisson Rouge, New York (as Fischersund Art Collective)

2022 - It’s Not You It’s Me, Þula Gallery, Reykjavík

2021 - Ilmur landslags, Listval, Reykjavík

2020 - Þögult Vor, curated by Daria Sól, Hafnarborg, Reykjavík

2020 - Gróður, curated by Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir, Berg Contemporary, Reykjavík

2019 - Rúllandi Snjóbolti 12, curated by May Lee, Ineke Guðmundsson and Annele Muster, Djúpivogur, Iceland

2018 - Dinner Party With Cyclone, curated by Mari Kappala, Forum Box, Helsinki

2018 - Heyr Heyr, Iðnó, Reykjavík (with María Huld and Björn Kristjánsson)

2017 - Twenty/20, Edward Cella Gallery, Los Angeles

2017 - Love Me Back, curated by Jessamyn Fiore, Rawson Projects, New York

2017 - Fischer, Fischersund, Reykjavík

2016 - Andvari, curated by Katrín Elvarsdóttir, National Museum of Iceland, Reykjavík (Group exhibition)

2016 - Cyclone II, curated by Mari Krappala, Titanic Gallery, Finland (Group exhibition)
2016 - Moment Gone, Ultra Super New Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

2015 - If Your Colors Were Like My Dream, Rawson Projects, New York

2015 - II Machines, a performance in Knockdown Center, New York

2015 - Birting, Gerðarsafn, Kópavogur, Iceland (Part of Reykjavík Art Festival)

2015 - 13 þrykk, Týsgallerý, Reykjavík, Iceland

2015 - The And, Jaqueline Falcone B&B, Miami

2014 - 40-42 gráður, Listamenn Gallery, Reykjavík, Iceland

2014 - Cyclone, Listasafn Árnesinga, Hveragerði, Iceland (Part of Reykjavík Art Festival)

2014 - The Balloon, Rawson Projects, New York

2014 - Composition #2, A sound performance on ESP TV, New York

2013 - The Vessel Orchestra, Reykjavík harbour, Iceland (Opening act of Reykjavík Art Festival)

2013 - The Art Side of the Múm, Gallery Listamenn, Reykjavík

2012 - Varúð, Listamenn Gallery, Reykjavík

2012 - The Demented Diamond and The Color Scheme of the Kling & Bang Confected

2011 - Video Archive, Reykjavík Art Museum, Reykjavík

2011 - Kling and Bang, TJ Boulting Gallery, London

2011 - Hljómur norðursins, Galtarviti, Keflavík, Iceland (Group exhibition)

2011 - KVELDÚLFUR – Sjónsuða, Verksmiðjan Hjalteyri, Hjalteyri, Iceland

2011 - MARGLAGA – Skynjunarskóli, Kling and Bang gallery, Reykjavík

2011 - Piparka.ka., Display in Aurum, Reykjavík

2011 - Homies where the heart is, GUM, Reykjavík (a performance with Elizabeth Sonenberg)

2010 - 4 Video Works, Precious Gallery, Miami (with Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir)

2010 - The Last Shapes of Never; a collection of videoworks, Kling and bang gallery, Reykjavík (with Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir)

2010 - Bakkus Postulanna, Graduation show, Iceland Academy of the Arts (Group exhibition)

2010 - Konan og húsið, Frieze Art Fair, Paris, France

2010 - 25 Video Works, Múm and Friends, Krakow, Poland (with Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir)

2010 - Gegnum, Skaftfell, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland

2010 - Ship Horn Composition, Villa Reykjavík Art Festival, Reykjavík, Iceland

2010 - Sjógangur, Slippurinn, Reykjavík (with Selma Hreggviðsdóttir and Elísabet Brynhildardóttir)

 

Other projects

2015 - Teacher, Lunga Art Festival

2013 - Teacher, Lunga Art Festival

2010- - Boardmember of Kling and Bang gallery

2011 - Founder of Endemi, a magazine showcasing Icelandic art

2011 - Teacher, Lunga Art Festival

Exhibitions
Art Fairs