Artists furious at sale of established Reykjavik art museum

Listasafn ASÍ, or Ásmundarsalur, a beautiful art museum in Freyjugata, central Reykjavik  has been put up for sale much to the chagrin of the Icelandic art community. The building, designed by sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson in 1933 was intended as an exhibition space and it was the wish of the artist that it remain so. 

The building, which is not on a list of protected Icelandic buildings, is owned by the Icelandic confederation of labour (ASÍ) who have put it up for sale. 

The association of Icelandic visual artists (SÍM) have handed in a signed declaration to the city and state voicing their concertn at this decision and demanding that the building should remain an art museum. Jóna Hlíf Hall­dórs­dótt­ir, director of SÍM said to mbl.is, "We want the state or the city of Reykjavik to step in. There is a need for exhibition spaces in the city centre. We don't want this building to be turned into yet another hotel, restaurant or puffin shop. This was the wish of Ásmundur Sveinsson and we need to respect that."

The reason that the building is not protected is that it's built after 1930 and therefore does not abide to laws about buildings of cultural heritage. 

This is however not the first time that the building is up for sale. In 1978 an architect society bought the building from Sveinsson's relatives and in 1995 it was sold to ASÍ. 

The museum has since been the home of the ASÍ art collection which includes works by Iceland's most famous artists. 

The sale listing for the art museum can be seen on the MBL real estate web HERE. 

This stunning art museum is up for grabs in central Reykjavik. Photo/ Mbl.is/ Fasteignir