Iceland’s National Gallery Turns 130

Iceland’s National Gallery turned 130 yesterday, and the museum celebrated by opening a new addition called the Vasulka Room, reports RÚV.

In honour of the birthday, entrance to the museum will be free until October 19.

The National Gallery of Iceland was actually founded in Copenhagen in 1884 by Björn Bjarnason. Originally it consisted of donated works by mainly Danish artists.

The collection came to Iceland in 1885 and has been housed in a few locations (including Iceland’s parliament) until eventually moving to its present location in 1987.

The museum owns over 10.000 art pieces and the most valuable collection of works by Icelandic artists in the country.