Hallgrímskirkju renningur – Myndlist í tilefni 40 ára vígsluafmælis Hallgrímskirkju

HALLGRÍMSKIRKJU RENNINGUR

Opening of an art exhibition during a festive service at Hallgrímskirkja on the church' 40th anniversary of consecration

To mark the 40th anniversary of the consecration of Hallgrímskirkja, artist Halldór Baldursson has created an illustrated history of the origins and construction of this monument to Iceland’s best-known hymn poet, Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614–1674). The story begins when schoolboys built a cairn beside the main road to Reykjavík on a hill above the town.

The scroll traces the history of Hallgrímskirkja, a living monument that took many years to build and whose completion was made possible through the perseverance and goodwill of countless people.

Today, the church offers a diverse programme of worship, a wide range of artistic and cultural events, and various services. The hill remains home to a well-known landmark: Hallgrímur’s church, with a tower considerably taller than the original observation tower erected on the hill in 1868.

Halldór Baldursson (b. 1965) is a renowned and award-winning illustrator. Early in his career, he created graphic novels for adults, but he became particularly well known for his political and social cartoons. He has also illustrated more than one hundred books and educational publications. Halldór has taught drawing and illustration at the Icelandic University of the Arts and at the Reykjavík School of Visual Arts, where he currently is the head of the Drawing Department.

Drawing on his skill as well as his interest in society and culture, Halldór has created an engaging illustrated history for Hallgrímskirkja.

The exhibition will officially open during a festive service on Sunday, 25 October 2026 at Hallgrímskirkja that starts at 11:00 and will plausibly be up for viewing until the beginning of Advent 2026.

HALLGRÍMSKIRKJA – YOUR PLACE IN REYKJAVÍK