Finnbogi Pétursson (b. 1959), one of Iceland’s most prominent artists, studied at the Icelandic College of Art and Crafts and the Jan van Eyck Akademie in the Netherlands. His innovative and eccentric oeuvre hinges upon the conceptual treatment and fusion of sound, space, and material. Finnbogi’s work often uses implements that produce electronic or acoustic sounds to form sculptures themselves. Many of his installations bridge contemporary technology and elemental phenomena. His work also evokes experiences that cannot be attributed to visual or auditory perception but rather a combination, perhaps transcendence of the senses. Exhibited around the world, Finnbogi’s works are found in several international public and private collections. He represented Iceland at the Venice Biennale in 2001 with his monumental sound installation Diabolus. Collections include TBA21, Vienna; Michael Krichman and Carmen Cuenca Collection, USA; Malmo KunstMuseum, Sweden; Nordiska Akvarell Museum, Sweden, Reykjavik Art Museum, Iceland; and the National Gallery of Iceland. In Iceland, his permanent installations can be seen at Landsvirkjun, Vatnsfellsvirkjun (an electric power plant), Reykjavik University, and at the headquarters of Reykjavík Energy. Finnbogi is represented by BERG Contemporary, Reykjavík; and Persons Projects, Berlin. Finnbogi lives and works in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Image credits: Leifur Rögnvaldsson