Bessastaðir, the official residence of the president of Iceland, has long been a place of significance in the country’s history.
Nearly 30 works of art from the National Gallery of Iceland’s collection adorn the walls of Bessastaðir, offering guests from near and far a glimpse into the history of Icelandic art.
View the artworks on the National Gallery of Iceland website
Located on the Álftanes peninsula, close to Reykjavík, Bessastaðir has a remarkable history. In the thirteenth century, the estate belonged to Snorri Sturluson, the famed scholar, statesman and poet. Later, it was home to the highest representatives of the Danish crown in Iceland, and in the nineteenth century, it housed the country’s highest educational institution.
Since the mid-twentieth century, Bessastaðir has served as the official residence of Iceland’s head of state. The oldest building on the property, known as Bessastaðastofa, is now connected to a reception hall and a service building. Nearby on the property, you’ll find Bessastaðir Church and the house where the president resides.
Since the founding of the republic in 1944, the National Gallery of Iceland has lent works by Icelandic artists to grace the walls of Bessastaðir. Shortly after she was elected in 2024, President Halla Tómasdóttir worked with the National Gallery to select the pieces now found around the property. In making her selection, she aimed to make the collection more gender balanced, and with works that span a longer period of Icelandic art then before.
