Gerdarsafn Kópavogur Art Museum

The municipality of Kópavogur began collecting artworks systematically on the occasion of its tenth anniversary in 1965, when it was agreed to establish, and make a fixed annual contribution to, an arts and culture fund. Kópavogur Art Museum – Gerðarsafn opened in 1994 in a building designed by the architect Benjamín Magnússon. Its collection currently holds approximately 4,250 items. The 1,400 works by Gerður Helgadóttir donated by her heirs in 1977 were joined in 1983 by approximately 300 pieces by spouses Barbara and Magnús Á. Árnason, donated by their memorial fund. Since the museum Kópavogur town established a culture fund and began collecting art works on the occasion of its tenth anniversary in 1965. The town has bought or received around 800 works which are mostly by Icelandic artists. These are housed in Gerðarsafn. From the year the museum was founded 1994, Gerðarsafn has bought on average ten works annually, mostly by Icelandic artists. About 20 exhibitions of various kinds are held annually, featuring both Icelandic and foreign artists.