Davíð Örn Halldórsson

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Davíð Örn Halldórsson

Davíð Örn Halldórsson (b. 1976) is an Icelandic artist known for his highly distinctive and richly layered approach to painting. A graduate of the Iceland University of the Arts (BA, 2002), Davíð has cultivated a vibrant and exploratory practice that bridges the tactile with the conceptual, often incorporating epoxy-resin and mixed materials into his intricately detailed surfaces.

Over the past two decades, Davíð has exhibited extensively, both in Iceland and internationally. His solo exhibitions include Typisch gluggaveður at Þula (2024), Mitt litla líf – pappír eða plast at Hverfisgallerí (2022), When in Rome at WB12, Stuttgart (2019), among many others. His work has also been featured in major group exhibitions such as Coincidentally, We See Abstractly at the National Gallery of Iceland (2024), Myndlistin Okkar at the Reykjavik Art Museum (2023), and Solid Transition at Stuttgart21 in Germany (2023). Earlier milestones include his participation in Carnegie Art Award exhibitions and the Prague Biennale.

Davíð’s paintings are often characterized by their obsessive attention to detail, layered materiality, and a delicate balance between chaos and control. His unique visual language draws from his immediate surroundings and personal experiences, transforming everyday impressions - such as the raw construction sites visible from his studio window - into compositions that are both enigmatic and visceral. Themes of inner and outer landscapes, transformation, and perception run through his practice, often approached through playful, yet profound, painterly interventions.

His work is represented in prominent public collections, including The National Gallery of Iceland, Reykjavík Art Museum, The Living Art Museum, and The University of Iceland Art Collection. He has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including several Artist Salary Awards from the Icelandic Centre for Research, and the prestigious Carnegie Grant in 2014.

Davíð currently divides his time between Stuttgart, Germany and Reykjavík, Iceland, maintaining an active studio practice and continuing to expand his dynamic exploration of painting and materiality.

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Biography

EDUCATION

1999-2002 Iceland University of the Arts

SOLO EXHIBTIONS

2024 Typich Gluggaveður. Þula, Reykjavík.

2022 Mitt litla líf – pappír eða plast / My Little Life – Paper or Plastic. Hverfisgallerí, Reykjavík, Iceland

2021 Ást við fyrstu sýn (aftur) / Love at first sight (again). Alþýðuhúsið, Siglufjörður.
2020 Ókei, Au pair. Hverfisgallerí, Reykjavík.

2019 When in Rome. WB12, Stuttgart, Germany.

2018 Léttfeti (harðkjarna baun).  Wind & Weather gallery, Reykjavík.
2017   River únd bátur. Hverfísgallerí, Reykjavík
2016   Take it easy mountain face. Superdeals gallery. Brussel. Belgía.
2015   Akkúrat hæfæv. Hverfisgallerí. Reykjavík.
2014   Glötuð verk. Listamenn gallerí. Reykjavík
2014   Elsku pappi. Gallerí Þoka, Reykjavík
2013   Paper/Wallpaper. Drake Hotel, Toronto, Kanada
2013   Ilmvatnsáin has minni. Gerðuberg menningarmiðstöð, Reykjavík.
2010   Faunalitir. Gallerí Ágúst, Reykjavík
2009   Hvar er klukkan?. Hafnarborg, Hafnarfjörður
2009   Væmin natúr og dreki. 101 projects, Reykjavík
2008   Loðvík 14, sólkonungur sýnir sinn innri mann. Slúnkaríki, Ísafjörður
2008   Absalút gamall kastale. Gallerí Ágúst, Reykjavík
2007   Quodro pop. Safn, Reykjavík
2006   Salon, Salon. Gel gallerí, Reykjavík
2005   Þriðja hjólið. Menningarmiðstöðin Skaftfell, Seyðisfjörður
2005   Húsverk/ sjáðu alla grænu fokkana. Gallerí Bananananas,Reykjavík
2005   Komdu Oxford, gerðu það. Veggverk. Skotgallerí, Reykjavík

2003 Þriðja hjólið.  Menningarmiðstöðin Skaftafell, Seyðisfjörður.
2003   Sjö flíkur, innsetningur. Klefinn, Nonnabúð, Reykjavík
2003   Bíllinn minn bílæði. Gallerí Borg, Skagaströnd
1999 Fallnir félagar, innsetningur. Gallerí Geysir, Reykjavík

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025 Þverskurður / Cross Section, Þula, Reykjavík
2024 Coincidentally, We See Abstractly. National Gallery of Iceland, Reykjavík.

2023 Listmíla-tvö. Art Museum of The Univerity of Iceland, Reykjavík.

2023 Myndlistin Okkar. Reykjavik Art Museum, Kjarvalsstaðir, Reykjavík.

2023 Solid Transition. Stuttgart21, Stuttgart, Germany.

2021 Cubibulum Offers Shelter For Some Superdealers. Cubiculum, Berlin, Germany

2019/20 Fresh Winds Art Biennale, Garður, Reykjanes.

2019 Sequences Art Fair, The Living Art Museum, Reykjavík.

2018 Ung Islandsk Kunst. Herfra & Ud i Verden. Bergade Kunsthandel, Copenhagen, Denmark.

2017 Uppi- Niðri. Hverfisgallerí, Reykjavík
2017 Homo grafíkus. Íslensk grafík, Reykjavík
2016 Chart Listamessan. Kaupmannhöfn, Danmörk
2016 Plan B. Mjólkursamlagið. Borgarnes
2015 Eitt leiðir af öðru. Gallery Gamma. Reykjavík
2015 Nýmálað. Listasafn Reykjavíkur. Hafnarhús, Reykjavík
2014 Carnegie Art Award. Kungliga Konstakademien Stokkhólmi, Svíþjóð
2013 Lög unga fólksins. Listasafn Reykjanesbæjar, Reykjanesbær
2012 Rými málverksins. Listasafnið á Akureyri. Akureyri.
2011 Four rooms. CCA Ujazdowski, Varsjá, Pólland
2011 Painting overall. Prag Biennale, Tékkland
2011 Hljómur norðursins. Galtarviti, Keflavík
2011 Almynstur. Listasafn Árnesinga, Hveragerði
2010 Rím/Rhyme. Listasafnið á Akureyri, Akureyri
2010 Ljóslitlífun. Hafnarhúsið, Reykjavík
2009   Rím/Rhyme. Ásmundarsafn, Reykjavík
2008   Trommusóló H42, Kling og Bang gallerí, Reykjavík
2007   Rozamira Festival. Moskva, Rússland
2007   Hérna. Hangart-7, Salzburg, Austurríki
2007   Nói át- No way out. Nýlistasafnið, Reykjavík
2007   List án landamæra. Norræna húsinu, Reykjavík
2007   The Saga Spirit Alive. Trygve Lie gallery, New York, Bandaríkin
2006   Pakkhús postulanna. Listasafn Reykjavíkur, Reykjavík
2005   Krútt. Nýlistasafnið, Reykjavík
2005   Grassroad, Grasrótarsýning. Nýlistasafnið, Reykjavík
2004   Trommusóló B2. Klink og Bank, Reykjavík
2003   Worms. Tryggvagata, Reykjavík
2002   Óður til líkamans. Reykjavíkur Akademían, Reykjavík
2002   Trommusóló R3a. Ránargötu, Reykjavík
2002   Þriðja ráðstefna Dieter Roth akademíunnar. Roth studio, Mosfellsbær
2002   On the rót, 80 dýr. Menningarmiðstöðin Skaftfell, Seyðisfjörður
2002   Útsala, Hringferð. Gamla sjúkrahúsið, Ísafjörður

SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Skrifborð (natúrfisch) 2017. The Icelandic Embassy in Paris

Crown, 2017. The Icelandic Embassy in Paris

Some Candy crushing, 2016. The Reykjavík Art Museum, Reykjavík
Lila, 2016. Hildegard Collection, Berlín

Flagg, 2015. The Living Art Museum, Reykjavík
Bust a move, 2009. Hafnarborg Museum, Reykjavík
Menjar, 2008. Art Museum of The University of Iceland, Reykjavík
Hvernig virkar borgarvirki, 2007. The National Gallery of Iceland. Reykjavík
Royal, 2007. The National Gallery of Iceland. Reykjavík
Kingdom of heaven, 2007. The National Gallery of Iceland. Reykjavík
Afturelding, 2007. Safn Collection, Reykjavík
Stóriðja, 2005. Fjölbrautarskóli Snæfellinga safneign, Grundarfjörður
Brúna myndin, 2002. Höfðahreppur Art Collection

UGRANTS & RESIDENCIES

2021 Project grant from the Icelandic Art Fund

2021 Artist Salary Fund - 3 months

2020 Covid 19 grant from the Icelandic Art Fund

2020 Artist Salary Fund - 3 months

2018  Artist Salary Fund - 6 months
2017  Artist Salary Fund - 3 months
2014 Carnegie Grant
2013 Artist Salary Fund - 3 months
2009 Artist Salary Fund - 1 year

2008 Artist Salary Fund - 1 year

2008 The Dungal Grant

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Exhibitions