I aim to express and examine basic forms of human emotions. In a sense you could say that most of my paintings are just a series of mistakes until they add up to something that works out aesthetically and emotionally. In a sense, a lot like life itself.
— Steingrímur Gauti
Born in Reykjavík, Iceland, in 1986, Steingrímur Gauti developed a passion for the arts during early youth, eventually graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Iceland University of Arts in 2015. Since then, he has been highly active in the art world, gaining international notice for his large-scale abstract paintings along with various projects in the local Icelandic arts scene. His works are currently featured in collections found in Iceland, Europe, USA and Asia.
Steingrímur primarily works in acrylics, along with a range of synthetic texture mediums, chalks and pigments. His most recent work includes large, sparse, abstract expanses on canvas, with childlike drawings and scribbles of sentences scattered, sometimes hidden, in the many layers of paint he applies.
Drawing inspiration from his surroundings — the often overwhelming Icelandic nature and the country's unpredictable, ever-changing weather — along with daily life and urban textures, his works are expressive and impulsive, yet delicate and nuanced. His visceral abstract language is reminiscent of both landscape painting and Twombly-esque graffiti, with the balance of thin and thick layers of paint, incoherent writing, and drawings peeking through — bringing the almost monochrome paintings to life. Like a dance.
Born 1986 in Reykjavík, Iceland. Lives and works in Reykjavík Iceland.
Education
| 2015 | BFA Fine Arts, Iceland University of the Arts |
| 2010 | The Reykjavík School of Visual Arts |
Solo Exhibitions
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2024 |
Galerie Marguo, Chop Wood, Carry Water, Paris, France |
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2022 |
Gallery Port, Mutes, Reykjavík, Iceland |
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2021 |
Galerie Marguo,Soft Approch, Paris, France |
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2020 |
Mokka, Vinnustofan (w. Halldór Ragnarsson), Reykjavík, Iceland |
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Lumex Gallery, Untitled, Reykjavík, Iceland |
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GK Gallery, Untitled, Reykjavík, Iceland |
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Gallerí Grótta, Ný verk, Reykjavík, Iceland |
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2019 |
Gallery Kjallari, …en svo vissi ég minna, Reykjavík, Iceland |
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2018 |
Tveir Hrafnar, Ekki gera neitt, Reykjavík, Iceland |
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SÍM Gallery, For the Time Being, Reykjavík, Iceland |
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Mosfellsbær Art Gallery, Undir, Mosfellsbær, Iceland |
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2017 |
Mokka, Citius, Reykjavík, Iceland |
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Ekkisens, Blues (w. Logi Bjarnason), Reykjavík, Iceland |
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Icelandic Printmakers Association, Stund, Reykjavík, Iceland |
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2016 |
Gallery Port, Áferð / Texture (w. Kristín Morthens), Reykjavík, Iceland |
Group Exhibitions
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2023 |
Gallery Port, Kollegar, Reykjavík, Iceland |
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Galerie Marguo, Art Paris 2023, Paris, France |
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Listval, Mens et Manus, Copenhagen, Reykjavík, Iceland |
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2022 |
Galerie Marguo, ART021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair, Shanghai, China |
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Galerie Marguo, Art Paris 2022, Paris, France |
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Embassy of Iceland, Mens et Manus, Copenhagen, Denmark |
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2021 |
Galerie Marguo, ART021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair, Shanghai, China |
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Galerie Marguo, Art Paris 2021, Paris, France |
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Gallery Port, Innanyfir / Withinover (w. Áslaug Íris Katrín), Reykjavík, Iceland |
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Galerie Marguo, Presentation of Marguo Artists, Paris, France |
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2020 |
Clandestina Gallery x DSQ Project Space, Vision Acuity, Miami, USA |
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Art3f Art Fair via Van Gogh Art Gallery (Madrid), Monaco |
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Listasafn Árnesinga Art Museum, Tíðarandi / Zeitgeist, Hveragerði, Iceland |
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2019 |
Hafnarborg Art Museum, Allt á sama tíma, Reykjavík, Iceland |
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2018 |
Plan-B Art Festival, Borgarnes, Iceland |
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2016 |
Plan-B Art Festival, Borgarnes, Iceland |
Collections
YAGEO Foudation, Taipei, Taiwan
Start Museum, Shanghai, China
M Art Foundation, Shanghai, China
Awards & Residencies
| 2021 | The Icelandic Visual Art Copyright Association (Myndstef), Project grant, Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Banditto Art Residency, Winner Emerging Artist Award, Montefollonico, Italy | |
| 2019 | Circolo Scandinavo (Skandinavisk Kunstforening), Artist in Residence, Rome, Italy |
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, chalk on linen40 x 30 cm (15 3/4 x 11 3/4 in) -
Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, chalk on linen40 x 30 cm (15 3/4 x 11 3/4 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, chalk on linen40 x 30 cm (15 3/4 x 11 3/4 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, chalk on linen40 x 30 cm (15 3/4 x 11 3/4 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, chalk, tape on linen40 x 30 cm (15 3/4 x 11 3/4 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, chalk on linen40 x 30 cm (15 3/4 x 11 3/4 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, chalk on linen40 x 30 cm (15 3/4 x 11 3/4 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, chalk on linen40 x 30 cm (15 3/4 x 11 3/4 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, chalk on linen40 x 30 cm (15 3/4 x 11 3/4 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, chalk on linen40 x 30 cm (15 3/4 x 11 3/4 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, chalk on linen50 x 40 cm (19 3/4 x 15 3/4 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, chalk on linen80 x 60 cm (31 1/2 x 23 5/8 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, chalk on canvas130 x 100 cm (51 1/8 x 39 3/8 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, chalk on canvas130 x 100 cm (51 1/8 x 39 3/8 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic on canvas153 x 83 cm (60 1/4 x 32 5/8 in)
Framed: 173 x 101 x 3 cm (68 1/8 x 39 3/4 x 1 1/8 in) -
Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, chalk on linen160 x 130 cm (63 x 51 1/8 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, chalk on linen160 x 130 cm (63 x 51 1/8 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, chalk on linen150 x 160 cm (59 x 63 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, chalk on canvas180 x 140 cm (70 7/8 x 55 1/8 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, chalk on canvas180 x 140 cm (70 7/8 x 55 1/8 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite on canvas180 x 140 cm (70 7/8 x 55 1/8 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, oil stick on linen160 x 200 cm (63 x 78 3/4 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, chalk on canvas200 x 160 cm (78 3/4 x 63 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, chalk on linen200 x 160 cm (78 3/4 x 63 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, chalk on canvas210 x 160 cm (82 5/8 x 63 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, chalk on canvas280 x 200 cm (118 1/8 x 78 3/4 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2023Oil, acrylic, graphite, chalk on canvas200 x 300 cm (78 3/4 x 118 1/8 in)
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2021Acrylics, chalk, oil pastel and varnish on canvas180 x 150 cm
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2021Acrylics, oil pastel on linen200 x 160 cm
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2021Oil, acrylics, chalk, oil pastel, gloss medium on linen200 x 160 cm
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2021Acrylics, house paint, chalk, graphite, oil pastel on canvas200 x 240 cm
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2021Oil, acrylics, chalk, oil pastel, graphite, varnish on linen160 x 130 cm
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2021Acrylic, chalk, graphite and varnish on linen50 x 40 cm
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2021Acrylic, chalk, graphite and varnish on linen50 x 40 cm
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2021Acrylic, chalk, graphite and varnish on linen50 x 40 cm
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2021Acrylic, chalk, graphite and varnish on linen50 x 40 cm
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2021Acrylic, chalk, graphite and varnish on linen60 x 50 cm
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2021Acrylic, chalk, graphite and varnish on linen60 x 50 cm
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2021Acrylic, chalk, oil pastel and gloss medium on linen160 x 130 cm
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled (12), 2021Acrylic, chalk, oil pastel, graphite on canvas140 x 140 cm
144 x 144 cm (framed) -
Steingrímur GautiUntitled (13), 2021Acrylic, chalk, oil pastel, graphite on canvas160 x 130 cm
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled (14), 2021Acrylic, chalk, graphite on canvas200 x 160 cm
204 x 164 cm (framed) -
Steingrímur GautiUntitled (15), 2021Acrylic, chalk, graphite on canvas200 x 160 cm
204 x 164 cm (framed) -
Steingrímur GautiUntitled (25), 2021Acrylic and oil on canvas200 x 240 cm
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2020Acrylic, texture paste, graphite, chalk on canvas165 x 200 cm
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Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2020Acrylic, oil, chalk, graphite on canvas200 x 160 cm
202 x 162 cm (framed) -
Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2020Acrylic, chalk, graphite on canvas140 x 120 cm
144 x 124 cm (framed) -
Steingrímur GautiUntitled, 2020Acrylic, texture paste, oil pastel, chalk on canvas140 x 120 cm
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Steingrímur Gauti: Chop Wood, Carry Water
Paris Exhibition Film 6 Jan 2024Galerie Marguo is proud to present Chop Wood, Carry Water , an exhibition by Iceland-based artist Steingrímur Gauti. On view from 12 January to 17...Read more -
Steingrímur Gauti: Chop Wood, Carry Water
Paris Exhibition Teaser 16 Dec 2023Read more -
Galerie Marguo @ ART021 Shanghai 2021
Art Fair 10 Nov 2021Galerie Marguo is pleased to be participating in ART021, with a presentation of nine contemporary international artists working in painting and photography. Spanning a variety...Read more -
Galerie Marguo @ Art Paris 2021
Art Fair 6 Sep 2021Last October, Galerie Marguo opened its doors in the Marais district of Paris with the desire to bring different corners of the world together through...Read more -
Steingrímur Gauti: Soft Approach
Paris Exhibition Full Film 25 Aug 2021Galerie Marguo is pleased to present Soft Approach , a selection of new paintings by Icelandic artist Steingrímur Gauti. On view from 4 September to...Read more -
Steingrímur Gauti
Online Presentation 25 Mar 2021Galerie Marguo is pleased to announce worldwide representation of Reykjavík, Iceland-based artist Steingrímur Gauti . Working primarily in acrylic combined with mixed media, Steingrímur Gauti...Read more
