The Iceland University of the Arts
The Iceland University of the Arts (IUA) is a self-governing institution providing higher education in fine arts, theatre, dance, music, design, architecture, and arts education. The University seeks to encourage progressive thinking in the arts and to stimulate artistic research as embedded in artistic and academic contexts. The University conveys knowledge and expertise in the arts in Icelandic society, placing priority on national and international collaborations, such as this project on socially engaged art run in partnership with the University of Iceland.
FOUNDER
Bryndís Snæbjörnsdóttir
Bryndís Snæbjörnsdóttir works in a collaborative art partnership with the artist Mark Wilson. Their 20-year interdisciplinary art practice is research-based, exploring issues of history, culture and environment in relation to both humans and non-human species. Working very often in close consultation in the field, with experts including professionals and amateurs, they use their work to test cultural constructs and tropes, and human behaviour in respect of ecologies, extinction, conservation and the environment. With a particular focus in the north, their projects and artworks have nevertheless been commissioned, generated and exhibited internationally and as frequent speakers at conferences worldwide, their works have been widely discussed in texts across many disciplinary fields. In 2019 they received a substantial grant from the Icelandic Research Fund (Rannís) for their project Visitations: polar bears out of place. Their artwork is installation based using variety of media including photography, video, text, drawing, objects and sound. Dr. Bryndís Snæbjörnsdóttir is Professor of Fine Art at the Iceland University of the Arts.