Maria Kjartans

Born: Ireland.  Based in London and Paris

Glasgow school of Art (MA Fine Art, 2007)

Icelandic born artist Maria Kjartans graduated with her MFA from Glasgow School of Art in 2007. Since then she has been living and working in London, Paris and now most recently Reykjavik, exhibiting her photography and video art around the world. Mari­a was rewarded Signature Art Award in London and the IdeasTap / Magnum Photographic awards for her photography projects and most recently nominated for best Icelandic short film in Iceland Short & Docs festival 2012. Alongside doing visual art Maria works as an art director at Vinnslan (vinnslan.is), which is a collective of Icelandic artists who create and curate interdisciplinary art projects. 

EDUCATION

2005 - 2007 M.F.A. Glasgow school of Art, Glasgow, UK

2002 - 2005 B.A. The Icelandic academy of the Arts, Reykjavik, Iceland

2000 - 2001     Art school of Reykjavik, Reykjavik, Iceland

1995 - 2000     Studio Hugskot, assistant photographer, Reykjavik

RESIDENCIES / AWARDS

2018 Winner at Open Call at Helsinki Photo Festival, Helsinki
2012 IdeasTap / Magnum Awards, London
2012 Nomination Best short film,Reykjavik Shorts & Docs, Reykjavik
2011 IdeasTap / Magnum Awards, London
2011 Signature Art Awards, London
2007 The Scottish Press Awards, Glasgow

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2019 Connection, Ramskram gallery of contemporary photography, Reykjavik
2017 Ótal Andlit Iðunnar, Gerðuberg Culture House, Reykjavik
2017 Ótal Andlit Iðunnar, Anitamarga studio, Reykjavik
2015 Spiritual Landscapes, Stefnumot, Keflavik
2013 Spiritual Landscapes, DegreeArt Gallery, London
2013 Spiritual Landscapes, Edinborg cultural center, Isafjordur
2011 Clearly Remote, CAM: Casoria contemporary art museum, Paris
2009 Lonely Place Dwellers, Miraggio club, London
2009 Shared Future, Empire Gallery, London
2006 Landálfur, The vine bar, Reykjavik
2005 The Hormone Society, Thorvaldsen,, Reykjavik
2004 Granadino, The vine bar, Reykjavik

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2019 TORG, Art fair, Korpúlfstaðir, Reykjavík
2019 ISO, FISL exhibition, Korpúlfstaðir, Reykjavík
2018 Helsinki Photo Festival 2018, Helsinki
2017 Portrait Now, The Museum of National History, Frederiksborg, DK
2017 Portrait Now, Ljungbergmuseum, Ljungberg, SE
2016 Microwave International New Media Arts Festival, Hong Kong
2016 Maria in each country, Travelling exhibition all over the world, Oslo
2016 Vogandi, Gallery Kænuvogur, Reykjavik
2015 The Icelandic Contemporary Photography Association, ÍSÓ2015, Isafjordur
2014 Landform, Norwegian House og Tang and Riis gallery, Stykkisholmur
2014 Poetry exhibition, The court house, Luxembourg
2014 Lfat festival off, Off venue, Le Touquet Paris plage, Paris
2014 Steypa, The old herring factory, Djupavik
2013 Betur sjá augu en auga, Reykjavik Museum of Photography, Reykjavik
2012 IdeasTap-Magnum Photographic awards, Magnum Print room, London
2012 Magmart festival, Execution room, Napoli
2012-14 Vinnslan #1-11, The north pole Teatre, Reykjavik old harbour & Tjarnarbio, Reykjavik
2011 ÖÖ-Was it a Dream #3, Helios cinema, Tallinn
2011 IdeasTap-Magnum Photographic awards, Old Truman Brevery, London
2011 Signature Art Award, Execution room, London
2011 2nd Roma Pavilion-Media archive, Venice Biennale, Venice
2010-2011 Fata Morgana, Meno Parkas Gallery, Kaunas, Lithuania
2010 ÖÖ-Was it a Dream, Nordic Avant-Garde, Stockholm
2010 Pedder Photography Exhibition, Bigger Picture Gallery, London
2010 The Pursuit of Happiness, Arsenal Gallery, Poznan
2009 Cellule de Crise, La Generale, Paris
2009 Cold Horizons, Museum de Nervi, Genoa, Nervi, Italy
2008 Berlin New Live festival, Berlin, New York
2008 Nordic moods, Arken Museum of Modern Art, Copenhagen
2007-2008 Where the Baltic Sea and people meet, Travelling exhibition
2008 Berlin New Live festival, Berlin og New York
2007 London Group, Menier Gallery-Chocolate factory, London
2007 Snap to grid, Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, L.A.
2007 Further More, Artnews Projects, Berlin
2007 Further More, Tramway, Glasgow
2006 It´s precious to me, Mackintosh Building, Glasgow
2006 De andere Kunstbeurs, Westergasfabriken, Amsterdam
2006 Ganghut - International Wave Festival, Melbourne
2005 The Hormone Society, Reykjavik Art Museum Kjarvalsstaðir, Reykjavik

PRESS / PUBLICATION

2018 The PhotoPhore article
2017 Borgarbokasafn article
2015 Art Reveal magazine, issue #8
2011 Clearly remote, Labworlds, Paris
2011 Park - art magazine, Issue #2, UK
2009 Framelines Magazine, Melbourne
2008 Seconds, publishing project issue #9
2008 20×20 magazine, issue 1#, London,
2008 Nordiske Stemninger, Arken Museum of modern Art, Copenhagen
2007 Camera Austria - magazine, issue #99, Graz