Born in 1984, in Reykjavík, Iceland, Baldur now works and lives in Chicago. From a young age he showed artistic prowess, as he observed the young artists who worked at his school. Growing up in a country that is plunged into darkness for half of the year allowed him to hide away and experiment with his craft. In the other half of the year the sun never sets, and this manic duality of Icelandic life shines through his work.

It was after moving to the US to pursue an MA that he began to master his playful approach to portraiture. The exaggerated, cartoon-like characters that dominate his work feel as though they belong as much in a Gaston comic, as they do in a great museum. Through manipulating the emotional and physical, he transports the viewer into a spirited, humorous and almost hallucinogenic world. Yet, each piece hints at a more sinister side, with his characters often partaking in debauchery.  

We’re not surprised that everyone seems to want a piece of Baldur. We can’t wait to see where he takes us next. Waiting lists are huge, so don’t wait any longer.

Baldur Helgason: “As an immigrant, I felt forced to explore the existential dread of living as a foreigner in today’s America.”

Baldur Helgason

Icelandic

Main

Artist

Printer

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Picaresque