Hekla Björk Guðmundsdóttir: Capturing the wildness and charm of Iceland

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Heklaíslandi

Ever since she was a child, Icelandic Hekla Björk Guðmundsdóttir has been in love with drawing and painting. Today, her talent and skill are displayed in a range of unique artworks and design items sold under the brand name Heklaíslandi, all inspired by Icelandic nature and tradition.

Hekla decided she wanted to be an artist when she was just ten years old. After finishing school, she enrolled at the Icelandic College of Art from which she graduated in multi-media in 1991. About two years later, she started doing oil paintings. “My inspiration comes 100 per cent from the Icelandic nature, Icelandic animals, and Icelandic traditions. All my work has some Icelandic inspiration,” explains the artist and designer. “My favourite is the sheep – they have kept the Icelandic people alive for ages, in so many ways.”

Later on, in 1996, Hekla began replicating her work in prints, first as gift cards, then on napkins, sculptures, and more. Since then, Heklaíslandi has grown into one of the best-known design brands in Iceland. Today, her brand Heklaíslandi is sold in design and concept stores all over Iceland as well as the online Heklaíslandi shop.

Hekla Björk Guðmundsdóttir: Capturing the wildness and charm of Iceland

The Icelandic fauna and wildlife are the main sources of inspiration for Heklaíslandi’s popular design products.

Wild and childish

Hekla grew up in the countryside, surrounded by the stunning volcanic mountains of southern Iceland, and through her work, it is easy to understand her love of Icelandic nature. Looking at her paintings, you are almost brought back to your childhood, reliving the enthusiasm brought on by animal sightings on her parents’ farm at that age.

The Icelandic fauna and wildlife are the main sources of inspiration for Heklaíslandi’s popular design products.

The simple and enchanting charm of Iceland’s most beloved wild and farmed animals such as sheep, Icelandic horses, and wild birds saturate sculptures, paintings, and prints. “I grew up in the countryside, so I was always inspired by the beauty of Iceland’s nature, and right from the beginning, the main theme for my work has been Icelandic nature and sheep,” says Hekla. “I like to paint sheep because I love their simple form and they have this pleasant charm and story that I love.”

Hekla Björk Guðmundsdóttir: Capturing the wildness and charm of Iceland

From napkins to sculptures and paintings

Heklaíslandi sells both the original artworks of Hekla as well as an array of design items based on the prints of her works and both wooden and cast sculptures. “In the beginning, my design items such as the napkins and candles with Icelandic themes were the most popular, but, today, the sculptures are what most people – both Icelandic and foreign customers – like to take home with them as a souvenir and symbol of Iceland,” explains Hekla. “The animal sculptures are simple designs of Icelandic animals, maybe even a little bit childish, and that has become my artistic trademark.”

Icelandic designer and artist Hekla Björk Guðmundsdóttir has been in love with art and Icelandic nature since she was a child.

In Heklaíslandi’s other design items, paintings inspired by Iceland’s folklore, flora, and fauna are replicated on or through high-quality products such as cushions, cups, cards and ornaments. The result is a range of products fusing Hekla the artist and Hekla the designer.

All of Hekla’s designs and paintings are sold through the Heklaíslandi online shop, which delivers all over the world.