About the Art Prize

The Icelandic Art Prize consists of two prize awards: the Art Prize and the Motivational Award. Additionally, there are awards for Group Exhibition of the Year, Retrospective of the Year, and Publication of the Year. Lastly, the Visual Arts Council grants one artist the Honorary Award to acknowledge their life’s work.

Since its establishment, there have been two main awards: The Art Prize, with a prize of 1 million ISK, and the Motivational Award, with a prize of 500 thousand ISK. Since then, the awards have grown, and four other categories have been added. 2021 saw the addition of the Honorary Award and Publication of the Year, and a year later, in 2022, Retrospective of the Year and Group Exhibition of the Year were added.

The awards are granted yearly in March. Leading up to the event, the public can submit suggestions. Shortly before the ceremony, the jury publishes a list of nominees.

The main category, The Art Prize, is presented to the Icelandic-born or -based artist considered to have excelled in their recent work and exhibitions in Iceland during the previous year. The prize is 1 million ISK.

The Motivational Award is presented to an active, up-and-coming artist who has garnered attention for their work. The prize is 500 thousand ISK.

The Honorary Award is bestowed upon an active visual artist for their life’s contribution to the Icelandic visual arts scene.

The Publication Award, either printed or digital, is granted to an institution, individual, or company that has contributed valuable content for promoting and researching Icelandic visual arts.

Retrospective of the Year. Recognition is given to a gallery, exhibition space, group, and- or curator that has organized an exceptionally well-received exhibition in Iceland of local or foreign work that highlights an art form, movement, group, or individual.

Group Exhibition of the Year. Recognition is given to a gallery, exhibition space, arts festival, group, and- or curator organizing a group art exhibition considered outstanding in the Icelandic visual arts scene.

Award Consideration Rules

A jury is appointed annually and operates according to the Icelandic Art Prize Consideration Rules. The committee’s function is to select a recipient for The Art Prize and grant The Motivational Award. When choosing recipients, the committee considers that the nominees' work must be outstanding and represent the very best of Iceland's contemporary visual arts scene. As of 2024, the jury will also award the Publication of the Year, Retrospective of the Year, and Group Exhibition of the Year. The Visual Arts Committee decides who receives the Honorary Award.

Leading up to the awards, the general public is invited to submit nominations for the jury to consider during the selection process.