In my work, I explore the body as a living record of memories, experiences and transformations. I approach it from my experience as a woman and the different stages of life, where personal experience, emotions and the traces of the past accumulate and shape who we are.

The works spring from reflections on our existence as spiritual and creative beings. I contemplate the relationship between body, soul and the divine, not as an external religious authority, but as an inner wisdom, intuition and deep awareness. What if we are in constant dialogue with something greater than ourselves, which also resides within us? What does it mean to be human, to have a voice and to be able to express what we feel inside?

In this process, a dialogue is created with the self—with our intuition, memories, and that which has not previously found words. The voice thus becomes not only a means of expressing oneself outwardly, but a way to approach the self and that „greater“ self that resides within us.

Is the purpose of life to become something other than who we are, or is it to experience, create and remember who we have always been? What if life is not just something that happens to us, but a process we take part in creating? And what happens then when the body dies? Do we continue in another form, in a new shell that the body is, or is death part of a larger cycle that we do not yet understand?

By letting go of old roles and identities, space is created for something new. The transformation is then not a final point, but an ongoing conversation with the past, the body, the soul, and life itself.

Using handmade paper, porcelain, metal, cocoa, found material from walks and organic forms, I seek a balance between vulnerability and strength. The artworks stand as bodily memories and a dialogue with the soul, or a kind of investigation into knowing, experiencing and being.

Guðný Magnúsdóttir was born in 1976. She graduated from the Painting Department of the Reykjavík School of Visual Arts and holds a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from the University of Cumbria in England.

For her final piece, Absence of the Soul, at the University of Cumbria, Guðný received the Derwent Prize for Excellence 2025, an award for outstanding achievement in her studies and artistic work.

Guðný has also attended three masterclass courses with the visual artist Bjarni Sigurbjörnsson, in addition to numerous courses at the Reykjavík School of Visual Arts.

Being is Gudný's second solo exhibition and her first since graduating with a BA in Fine Art.

There will be a special exhibition opening on Thursday, 3rd September from 18:00-21:00, and you are invited!

Other opening times:

Friday 4 September, 14:00–18:00
Sat. 5 Sept 13:00 – 17:00
Sun. 6 Sept 13:00 – 17:00
Wed. 9 Sept 14:00 – 18:00
Thu 10 Sept 14:00 - 18:00
Friday 11 September, 14:00–18:00
Sat. 12 Sept 13:00 - 17:00
Sun. 13 Sept 13:00-17:00

LG // Litla Gallerý is supported by the City of Hafnarfjörður for the event.

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In my work, I explore the body as a living archive of memories, experiences and transformations. I approach this through my own experience as a woman and through the different stages of life, where personal experiences, emotions and traces of the past accumulate and shape who we are.

The works emerge from reflections on our existence as spiritual and creative beings. I consider the relationship between the body, the soul and the divine – not as a religious authority outside ourselves, but as inner wisdom, intuition and a deeper consciousness. What if we are in constant dialogue with something greater than ourselves, something that also resides within us? What does it mean to be human, to have a voice and to be able to express what we feel within?

Through this process, a dialogue with the self begins – with intuition, memory and that which has not previously found words. The voice becomes not only a means of expressing ourselves outwardly, but also a way of moving closer to the self and to this “something greater” that resides within us.

Is the purpose of life to become something other than what we are, or is it to experience, create and remember who we have always been? What if life is not simply something that happens to us, but a process in which we actively participate in creating? And what happens when the body dies? Do we continue in another form, in another vessel, or is death part of a greater cycle that we do not yet understand?

By letting go of old roles and identities, space opens up for something new. Transformation then becomes not an endpoint, but an ongoing dialogue with the past, the body, the soul and life itself.

Working with handmade paper, porcelain, metal, cacao, found materials gathered while walking, and organic forms, I seek a balance between vulnerability and strength. The artworks become embodied memories and a dialogue with the soul – a kind of exploration of what it means to know, to experience and to be.

Guðný Magnúsdóttir was born in 1976. She studied in the Painting Department at the Reykjavík School of Visual Arts and holds a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from the University of Cumbria, England.

For her degree work, Absence of the Soul, at the University of Cumbria, Guðný received the Derwent Prize for Excellence 2025, recognising outstanding achievement in her studies and artistic practice.

Guðný has also completed three masterclasses with Icelandic artist Bjarni Sigurbjörnsson, as well as numerous courses at the Reykjavík School of Visual Arts.
Being is Guðný's second solo exhibition and her first solo exhibition since graduating with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art.

There will be a special exhibition opening on Thursday, 3rd September from 18:00-21:00 and you are welcome!

Other opening hours:

Fri. 4th Sept 14:00 – 18:00
Sat. 5th Sept 13:00 – 17:00
Sun. 6th Sept 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Wed. 9th Sept 14:00 – 18:00
Thursday, 10th September, 14:00 – 18:00
Fri. 11th Sept 14:00 – 18:00
Sat. 12th Sept 13:00 – 17:00
Sun. 13th Sept 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

LG // Litla Gallerý is sponsored by the town of Hafnarfjordur for this event.