Since 1979 Steinunn has exhibited worldwide with numerous solo shows in Iceland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, UK, Germany, Canada and USA, both in museums, galleries and public places.
Steinunn has participated in countless group exhibitions worldwide. Among them are Scandinavia Today touring USA and Japan, The Beijing Biennale, Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney, Kolonialen, Opening exhibition of the North Atlantic Bridge in Copenhagen, Heads, Figures and Ideas at Osborne Samuel in London, Fresh Figures and Abstractions at Scott White Contemporary in California, 14 artists the Centenary of the National Gallery of Iceland, Sculpture, sculpture, sculpture, The Reykjavik Art Museum, Sculpture at Pilane in Sweden with 7 other sculptors, among them are Tony Cragg, Ursula von Rydingsvard and Jittish Kallat.
Her 12 piece public art exhibition HORIZONS travelled to 10 different venues in USA between 2007 until 2019 when it was acquired by a permanent collection in Canada.
The exhibition Situations at Economist Plaza in London was staged in 2011 in collaboration with Osborne Samuel Gallery in London.
Steinunn ́s 22 piece public art exhibition BORDERS was first exhibited in 2011 at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza by the United Nations Headquarters, in collaboration with New York City Public Parks. BORDERS is now in it ́s 10th venue in the US. During it ́s final week in Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, President of the Friends of Dag Hammarskjöld said in a press release “BORDERS has become a uniquely unifying element in our diverse neighborhood, The elegant humanity of the works has been embraced by our community, both figuratively and literally—awaking a spirit of compassion, humor and contemplation. Steinunn’s installation has generated an unprecedented response.”
In 2018 Steinunn ́s public art show ARMORS was exhibited in Fort Tryon Park, NYC and was featured in the New York Times as one of eight most exciting public art installations in New York City. It was staged in collaboration with NYC Parks Public Art Program and the Arms and Armors Department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art utilizing medieval pieces from the MET ́s permanent collection.
Steinunn ́s work is in many prominent public and private collections worldwide. Among them are The National Gallery of Iceland, the City of Reykjavík, City of Kristianstad, Sweden, the collection of Carl XVI Gustav, the King of Sweden, State Hospital in Copenhagen, the Danish Banker ́s Association, Kathryn Hall Vineyards in California, Royal Carribbean, Cliff Lede Vineyards, the Estate of Sir Rocco and Lady Forte in England, the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, the City of Hull in England, Elgiz Museum, Istanbul, Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, the Brauer Museum, USA, Leif Eriksson International Airport, University of Hull, Mission Hill Family Estate, BC, Canada, Hall Arts in Dallas Art District, the City of Copenhagen, the City of Thorshavn, Faroe Islands, Cawdor Castle in Scotland, The Skyscraper Centre, Boston, Georgia Museum of Art in USA, Mission Hill Family Estate, Martin´s Lane Winery, The Nordic Museum, Seattle.
Speaking engagements f.e.: Guest speaker at Art in Public Space Symposium in the The Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, she has lectured at the Sydney Art School, The Cleveland Art Institute, The Cleveland State University, The Goethe Institute in Toronto, The Sculpture Society of Canada, Concordia University, USA, the University of Hull, UK, The San Antonio Botanical Gardens in collaboration with Blue Star Contemporary Art Center, Governor´s State University, Illinois, Cedar Crest College and Baker Center for the Arts in Pennsylvania, the Georgia Museum of Art, the Birmingham Museum of Art in Alabama, the Brauer Museum in Indiana, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, SDU University of Southern Denmark, Hannover College, Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis, USA and the Reykjavik Arts Festival.
From 2009 to 2013 Steinunn was a Board of Director at the International Sculpture Center, USA. She was chairman of the Icelandic Association of Sculptors 1985-1987. Member of the board of the National Gallery of Iceland 1994-1997, Member of the board of the Visual Art Committee of the Ministry of Culture 2001-2003.
Steinunn has received numerous awards and grants in her over 45 year career among them are an Honorary Doctorate from Hull University, UK and the Order of the Falcon granted by the President of Iceland for her contribution to the visual arts in Iceland and abroad.
Her art has been featured in many publications among them are The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Art Newspaper, artnetNews, The Times in London, Sculpture Magazine, Sunday Telegraph in Australia, Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, Where Magazine to name a few. A CINE award winning documentary was released about Steinunn ́s work in 2008, by American filmmaker Frank Cantor, titled HORIZONS, The Art of Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir.
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NEW BOOK: Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir: Human
