Retrospective of the Year 2025: Transformation

The recipient of the Visual Arts Council’s award for Retrospective of the Year is the exhibition Transformation | Works by Gerður Helgadóttir. The exhibition was presented to mark the 30th anniversary of the Gerðarsafn Art Museum in Kópavogur.

The exhibition Transformation was exceptionally well designed, professional and realised with great sensitivity and insight. Semi-transparent fabric walls formed a delicate framework for different periods in Gerður’s art and reflections by several practicing artists were included as part of the story. Gerður’s works were chosen based on a deep knowledge of her diverse oeuvre and intriguing connections were established with artists from her time.

In relation to the exhibition, the book In Search of Space was published, which sheds light on Gerður’s life and art from a variety of perspectives. The book is both thoughtfully made and elegantly put together. A sculpture garden was also opened by the museum on this occasion, featuring several of Gerður’s works. Finally, it is worth mentioning the museum’s elaborate introductory exhibition of Gerður’s works, which has been on view since 2023 and will continue. The recognition, therefore, extends to the museum’s commendable and highly detailed presentation of Gerður’s artistic creation over the course of the year.

Gerður Helgadóttir (1928–1975) was a pioneer in the field of sculpture in Iceland. She was a contemplative artist and her subject matter was very diverse. Initially, she was influenced by post-war Modernism in Europe, but later on her work developed very personally, drawing inspiration from beyond Western standards and exploring the world of mysticism. The jury considers that Gerðarsafn has successfully communicated Gerður’s art with superbly crafted exhibitions and a beautiful, high-quality book that places Gerður's work in an international, art-historical context.

Curator: Cecilie Gaihede