Klara Gunnlaugsdottir

Icelandic Abstract Painter | Tactile Elemental Abstraction:

Klara’s work is deeply rooted in the raw beauty and elemental forces of nature. Born and raised in Iceland and living and working in Brittany, France, she draws inspiration from her homeland’s volcanic landscapes, the meeting of fire and ice, and the extraordinary contrasts between summer brightness and winter darkness.

Through her distinctive artistic approach, which she calls, "Tactile Elemental Abstraction", she seeks to capture the essence of nature rather than depict it literally. Texture, material, and movement are central to her practice. Frequently she uses authentic lava stones from Iceland and crushes them herself, incorporating the resulting granules into her custom-made modeling paste. This process creates richly textured, tactile surfaces that establish a direct physical connection to the landscape that inspires her. Occasionally, she also embeds small, intact lava stones into her paintings, enhancing their sculptural presence.

Klara's intuitive process explores contrasts between roughness and fluidity, density and openness, movement and stillness. Light and shadow interact with the textured surfaces, revealing changing depths and atmospheres. Light has...

Self-taught artist with BA degree in Political Science from University of Iceland.

INTERNATIONAL ART FAIRS:
Discovery Art Fair / Cologne Germany 2023
Art Madrid ‘23 / Madrid Spain 2023
ST-ART '22 / Strasbourg France 2022

SOLO EXHIBITIONS :
Espace Culturel Le Pass Temps / Malestroit France 2025
Espace Culturel Le Triskell / Ploeren France 2023
Galerie L’Invantrie / Montauban France 2018, 2011
Hôtel Le Moulin de la Wantzenau / La Wantzenau France 2017
Le Celtic / St-Méen-le-Grand France 2015
La Port des Secrets / Paimpont France 2014
La Maison du Morbihan / Mauron France 2014
Brit Hôtel / St-Méen-le-Grand France 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
Groskusalurinn / Gardabaer Iceland 2012
Médiathèque Municipale / St-Méen-le-Grand France 2012
FS Torg / Gardabaer Iceland 2011, 2010, 2009

MAIN GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
1ere Biennale Nevadart / St-Quay-Portrieux, France 2026
Salon Esprit Maison et Jardin / Rennes, France 2026
Salon Préventica parc expo / Rennes, France 2026
After first salon NEVADART / Rennes, France 2026
Pavillon Courrouze / Rennes, France 2025
La Grand Halle Courrouze / Rennes, France 2024
RenovArt / Matera, Italy 2024
Galeria Azur / Berlin, Germany 2023
Galeria Gaudi / Madrid, Spain 2023
Gallery Uxval Gochez / Barcelona, Spain 2022
ArtBro Abbaye / Paimpont France 2022, 2021, 2017, 2016, 2015
La Chappelle Bleue /...