Registered Architect in Iceland

FAI, Member of the Association of Icelandic Architects -
SIM, Member of the Icelandic Artists Association -

Editor of Das Boot, on dasboot.org since 1998 -



TEACHING

City of Reykjavik, Icelandic Architecture Association, Honorable mention for Grafarholt, urban design proposal, 1996

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Commencement Honors, 1986



COLLECTIONS

MUDESA, Museum of Design and Applied Art, Garðabæ, Iceland

Kunst og Industri Museet, Copenhagen, Denmark

The Art Director's Club, New York, New York

George M. Beylerian, New York, New York

Paola Antonelli, New York, New York

Laetitia Wolff, New York, New York

Össur Hf, Reykjavik, Iceland

NUmerous private collections in The United States and Europe.



LECTURES

Living Spaces, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, Altoids Living Spaces, May 2006

Utsmykkningsfondet, National Foundation for Art in public buildings, Oslo, Norway; Tsunami Memorial design proposals, May 4-11, 2006

The Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, Oslo, Norway; Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth, March 17-May 18, 2006

Copenhagen City Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark; The Northatlantic Islands, March 10-29, 2006

The Röhss Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, Gothenburg, Sweden; Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth, December 3, 2005-February 26, 2006

Iceland National Museum, Reykjavik, Iceland; design is, November, 2005

Kunst og Industri Museet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth, September 15-November 20, 2005

Lys Over Lylland, Sakskøbing, Denmark; Design is, Opens August 26, 2005

Lighthouse, Glasgow, Scotland; Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth, June 19-August 28, 2005

Listahátíð á Laugarvatni; Gullkistan 2005, June 17-July 3, 2005

Hólar, Hús Menntaskólans á Akureyri, Akureyri í Öndvegi, Urban design proposals exhibition.

Museum of Decorative Art, Riga, Latvia, Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth

Museum of Decorative Arts, Budapest, Hungary, Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth

Hunterdon Art Museum, Clinton New Jersey; Outrageous Home, Group exhibition with unique pieces by well known North American studio/ furniture artists, Oct 2004-January 2005

Marel, Garðabæ, Iceland; Transforme: Design Islandais, October 22-November 30, 2004.

The Museum of Decorative Art, Prague; Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth, October 9, 2004 – January 2, 2005

Arnesinga Art Museum, Hveragerði, Iceland; Sýsla, small works, October-November, 2004

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Alumni Exhibition at The School of Architecture and Urban Planning, September, 2004


Akureyri Art Museum, Iceland, Summer exhibition Hagvirkni, húsbúnaður eftir listamenn 1904-2004, July 10-August 22, 2004 >

Designmuseum, Gent, Belgium, "Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth," June 27-September 26, 2004

Museum of design and applied Art, Garðabær, Iceland, Hagvirkni, húsbúnaður eftir listamenn 1904-2004, Opening May 15, 2004

Palazzo Triennale, Milan, Italy, "Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth," March 22-June 13, 2004. Opening April 1, 2004

V.I.A. (Valorisation de l'Innovation dans l'Ameublement) Paris, Design islandais, group exhibition with design works of Icelandic designers, April 1- May 29, 2004. Opening April 1, 2004

Scope Art Fair, New York, work selected by Scope Committee for Emerging Artist (selection by Laurie Anderson), room #318, Ganzevoort Hotel, March 12-15, 2004

NORDIC HOUSE, Reykjavik, Iceland, "Jólasýning", exhibition with Icelandic craft and design, November 22-December 22, 2003

Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, Germany, "Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth", November 2003

THE RISD MUSEUM, Providence, Rhode Island. "Faculty Biennial" Sept 26-Oct 26, 2003

Bio Nord, Bremerhaven, Germany, "design is" group exhibition, with a selection of Icelandic designers.  July 3-July 30, 2003

The John Elder Gallery, New York, "Naughty" Furniture Designed for Sex, Invited Group Exhibition, June 26 – August 9, 2003

Opna Galleríið, Reykjavik, Iceland. "Þau biðja að heilsa - íslendingar erlendis." Group exhibition of Icelandic artists, March 2003

Islandische Botschaft, Berlin, Germany, "design is" group exhibition, with a selection of Icelandic designers. January-February 2003

Kunst og Industrimuseet, permanent museum exhibition: UTOPIA and REALITY in 20th century craft and design. Includes Delirium Tremens bottle stand. Danish Museum of Decorative Art, Copenhagen, Denmark, since 2002

MUDESA, Museum of Design and Arts, Iceland, "Vessels" Group Exhibition of vessels from the museum collection, June 8 - August 31, 2002

StEtienne design biennale Ecole des Beaux arts, via Futureflair, France 2000

"Blasted Landscapes", architecture exhibition, Hic et Nunc, Italy, 2000

Seltjarnarnes, Hrólfsskálamelar, urban design proposal, Seltjarnarnes, Iceland, 2000.

Soho20 Gallery, Gifts for the 21st Century, group art show, New York City, 2000

Celebrate NY Design! design exhibition, Chelsea Market, sponsored by the Municipal Art Society, New York City, 1999

New Museum of Contemporary Art, group design exhibit (window), New York City, 1999

International Contemporary Furniture Fair, Dingaling Studio booth #790, NYC, 1999

Klisanin Ross Gallery, 4 BEGASSTO, group exhibit, furniture and design, New York City, 1999

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Alumni exhibit, Architecture and design, 3/1999

Reykjavik City Hall, Olympic swimming pool proposal, Reykjavik, Iceland,1999

Art Directors Club, Menorah (design commission), New York City, 1998

Soho20 Gallery, Salon Show, group exhibit, New York City, 1998

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Alumni exhibit, Architecture and design work, 3/1998

Kjarvalsstaðir, Urban design proposals, Grafarholt, Reykjavík, 1996

Stjórnsýsluhús, Urban design proposals, Ísafjörður, Iceland, 1996

Centre Georges Pompidou, Paintings and design work for Pesce, Paris, 1996

Blue Lagoon, Powerplant visitors center proposal, Iceland, 1995

Public pools, urban design proposal, Seltjarnarnes, Iceland, 1994

Peter Joseph Gallery, New York, Paintings and design work for Pesce, NYC, 1991

Urban proposal, Álftanes, Iceland, 1991

Geothermal bore hole cap proposal, Reykjavík, Iceland, 1991

Community center and school proposal, Iceland, 1990

Landscape architecture proposal, Viðey island, Reykjavík, Iceland, 1989

I-House, The Bridge, plaster/metal sculpture, New York City, 1989

Columbia University, cast plaster and metal models for Nikken Sekkei, NYC, 1989

Frankfurt, cast plaster of paris model and design created for MacDonald/Kolatan, Germany 1989

Columbia University, New York City, 1987-90

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1983-1986



SHOWROOM

Shop@ Scandinavia House, design shop, New York City, 2000-2004

Gallery Copen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2000-2002

Material-Connexion Gallery, New York City, 2000-present

Galleri Fold, Reykjavik, Iceland, 2000-present

John Elder Gallery, back room, New York City, 2000-2005

New Museum of Contemporary Art, design store, New York City, 1999-2000

Gallery 91, New York City, 1999



TV/RADIO/VIDEO

WNYC, Art of War, listener featured gallery, New York, April, 2003

INNLIT ÚTLIT, Skjár 1, Television, Interview by Valgerður Matthíasdóttir; Reykjavik, Iceland, April 23, 2002.

MÓSAÍK, Sjónvarpið; Icelandic State Television, Interview by Jónatan Garðarsson; "Sérstæð hönnun Ólafs Þórðarsonar arkitekts, sem búið hefur í New York í tvo áratugi hefur vakið verðskuldaða athygli. Verk hans og vinnuteikningar eru nú til sýnis í Hönnunarsafninu í Garðabæ." Reykjavik, Iceland, aired on April 10, 2002

VÍÐSJÁ, RÚV-Icelandic State Radio. Interview by Þórný Jóhannsdóttir; aired March 27th and March 31, 2002.

INNLIT ÚTLIT, Skjár 1, Television, Valgerður Matthíasdóttir and Aðalsteinn Ingólfsson; featured Escargot clock; Reykjavik, Iceland, April 22, 2001.

A-60 People segment, "New York City : Olafur Thordarson", program made by Joe Chow for Chinese TV, 2000, not aired.

Joe Chow: "Olafur Thordarson  Furniture-Art" video produced by Joe Chow, 1999.



PRESS

Laetitia Wolff: "Meltdown" Surface Magazine, New York, NY, Issue 60, p. 168

Svava Jónsdóttir: "Fjölbreytni er lykilorðið." Veggfóður, Reykjavík, Iceland, May 2006, pp. 80-83.

Aðalsteinn Ingólfsson; "Pieces of Iceland: Post-war Design." Atlantica Magazine, Reykjavik, Iceland, March/April, 2006, p. 53.

David Sokol: "Icelandic Elf Designs," I.D. Magazine, New York, March/April, 2006 (brief mention), p. 81.

"Ólafur Þórðarson í Nordlys." Morgunblaðið, Reykjavik, Iceland, September 26, 2005, p. 37.

Laetitia Wolff and Aðalsteinn Ingólfsson: "In the belly of an architect."  Exhibition catalogue published on the occasion of Thordarsons exhibition at Galleri Nordlys. Images with 17 works. September 2005, 16 pages.

Young Nordic Design; by Yin Zi, book published by Chongqing Publishing House, China, pp. 136-143, 2005

Sigríður V. Jónsdóttir; Hönnun; "Klukkan | Ólafur Þórðarson." Tímarit Morgunblaðsins; Reykjavik, Iceland, August 28, 2005, p. 5.

Henrik Karlsson: "The unexpected." Plaza Magazine (English version), Stockholm, Sweden, April, 2005, p. 14, pp. 54-59.

Henrik Karlsson: "Et Moment av Slump." Plaza Magazine, Stockholm, Sweden, March 2005, pp. 66-71.

Freyr Gígja Gunnarsson: "Býr milli Guðs og skrattans." Fréttablaðið, 13. January, 2005, p. 6-7.

Anne Levin: "Outrageous Home." The Times, At Home section, New Jersey, November 1, 2004, cover.

"Outrageous Home inspires two workshops at museum." North Hunterdon weekender, New Jersey, October 15, 2004, cover, p. 5.

Dan Bischoff. "Items in 'Outrageous Home' won´t fade into the woodwork." The Sunday Star Ledger, New Jersey, October 24, 2004, p. 20.

Anna Ei. "Leikið með andstæður", Morgunblaðið, Reykjavík, Iceland, November 6, 2004, p. 26.

Hildreth York and Ingrid Renard. "Outrageous Home" Exhibition catalogue published by the Hunterdon Museum of Art, Clinton New Jersey. p. 27, 35

Þórir Júlíusson. "Orðabelgur og eitraðir ísmolar" Morgunblaðið, Reykjavík, Iceland, July 23, 2004, p. 41.

Jón B. K. Ransu, "Hönnun/Myndlist Ólafur Þórðarson",  Morgunblaðið -Menning, Reykjavík, Iceland, August 6, 2004, p. 45.

Draumbrot, exhibition catalogue showing 22 objects. Limited edition, numbered 1-100. July 15, 2004, 24 pages

Aðalsteinn Ingólfsson: "Hagvirkni, -húsbúnaður eftir íslenska myndlistarmenn 1904-2004", Museum of Design and Applied Art, exhibiton catalogue published in conjunction with the Art Museum of Akureyri, 2004, spread and back cover

Sigurbjörg Þrastardóttir: "Dýrðin á ásýnd hlutanna", Tímarit Morgunblaðsins; Hönnun, Reykjavik, Iceland, May 5, 2004, p. 20

Kolla. "Íslensk hönnun sker sig úr", Fréttablaðið, Reykjavik, Iceland, April 4, 2004, pp. 28-29.

TRANSFORME, Exhibition catalogue, "Icelandic Design/New Generation" VIA/Industries Francaises de l´Ameublement, Paris, 2004, p. 25, 46

Gérard Laizé. "TRANSFORME, Icelandic Design/New Generation", Exhibition catalogue, VIA/Industries Francaises de l´Ameublement, Paris, 2004, p. 25, 46.

Widar Halén and Kerstin Wickman. "Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth, Fifty years of design from the Nordic countries,"  Arvinius Forlag/Form Förlag, Stockholm, Sweden, 2003, Book published in conjunction with exhibition; p. 166, 198.

Pietro Valle: "Passeggiata marziana", Artland, Arch'it, Italy, December 14, 2003 on http://www.architettura.it/artland/index.htm

"Hrafnkell Birgisson and Sólveig Sveinbjörnsdóttir. "design.is", Nordische Botschaften, Berlin, 2003, soft cover catalogue exhibition book, pp. 44-45, 94-95.

Hildur Einarsdóttir. "Íslensk hönnun í hávegum; Þúsaldarklukka," Morgunblaðið, Reykjavik, Iceland, October 11, 2002, p. B5.

Halldór Björn Runólfsson. "Mjúkar og harðar lausnir," Morgunblaðið, Reykjavik, Iceland, May 7, 2002, p. 27.

Ásrún Kristjánsdóttir. "New York / Garðabær," DV Dagblaðið-Vísir, Reykjavik, Iceland, April 5, 2002, p. 13.

Páll Ásgeir.  "Þegar Turnarnir Hrundu,"  DV Dagblaðið-Vísir, Reykjavik, Iceland, March 28, 2002, pp. 18-19.

Cara Greenberg. "The body Eclectic/Creative eye," Metropolitan Home (Escargot in article on Mr. Beylerian), Nov/Dec 2002, P. 104

"Brot af Ferli: Ólafur Þórðarson í Hönnunarsafninu," Morgunblaðið, Reykjavik, Iceland,  March 28, 2002, p. 24.

Ryan Bourquin. "Sculptural Shelves," Home|Style, New York, New York, March 2002, p. 25.

George Beylerian, John Elder, Aðalsteinn Ingólfsson, Khipra Nichols, Skuli Sverrisson, Elena Carlini+Pietro Valle, Lynnette Widder and Laetitia Wolff. "Olafur Thordarson," John Elder Gallery, New York / Museum of Design and Applied Art, Iceland, softcover book, 44 pages, 2001.

Marius Dirgela. "Olafur Thordarson," CENTRAS design magazine, issue no. 16, Vilnius, Lithuania, 2001, pp. 54-55, interview p. 85.

Rita Catinella. "Lighting Briefs, Northern Light," Architectural Record, New York, November 2001, p. 211.

"Lighting/products; UL 2, by Olafur Thordarson," INTERIOR DESIGN, issue no. 10, New York, August 2001, p. 250.

Michael Porciello. "Olafur Thordarson Furniture/Product Design Iceland," GRAPHIS, issue no. 333, New York, May-June 2001, pp. 146-149.

Hulda Stefánsdóttir. "Íslenskur hönnuður sýnir í New York," Morgunblaðið, Reykjavík, Iceland, June 3, 2001, p. 17.

Jeffrey Bilhuber. "Constantin Brancusi," NEW YORK, New York, April 9, 2001, p. 72-73.

Theresa Capuana. "Making Light," HOME, New York, May 2001, p. 100-101.

Marius Dirgela. "Reportazas," CENTRAS design magazine, issue no. 13, Vilnius, Lithuania, 2001, p. 47-48.

Tískudagar, p. 20, Kringlan, Iceland, 8 March 2001.

Svava Jónsdóttir. "Fjölbreytni er lykilorðið", Lífsstíll design magazine, issue no. 4, Reykjavik, Iceland, 2000, p. 4, 8, pp. 40-44.

Elena Carlini and Pietro Valle. "Olafur Thordarson," Juliet Art Magazine,  Associazione Juliet, Trieste, Italy, November, 2000, p. 50.

"Olafur Thordarson Designer," AZIMUTS, issue no. 18-19, revue de Design, Ville de Saint-Étienne, France, 2000, p. 461.

Iceland Review : ATLANTICA. "From urban planning to a snail clock", by Anna Margret Bjornsson. Iceland Review Publisher, Iceland, pp. 69-74, July-August 2000

Lighting 2000; A Guide to the Best in Contemporary Lighting Design. Tulip and Fungi lamps,  book by Tina Skinner. Schiffer Publishing Ltd, Pennsylvania, USA. p. 100, 2000

HICETNUNC´, Rassegna di Arte Contemporanea. "Blasted Landscapes", Edizioni Biblioteca dell'Immagine. Comune di San Vito al Tagliamento. P. 52, 4/2000

International Design Yearbook #15, 2000 edition. Delirium Tremens wine rack, book edited by Ingo Maurer. Calmann and King, London, p. 113 / 233, 2000

Home Lighting and Accessories Magazine. "How to satisfy the current craving for contemporary", by Linda Longo. p. 190-192, 12/1999

INTERIOR DESIGN Fall Market. Lighting; "Olafur Thordarson", by Elana Frankel p.156, 10/1999

Morgunblaðið, LESBÓK.  "Kynntu verk sín og töluðu", by Hulda Stefansdottir. Reykjavik, Iceland, p. 2, October 30, 1999

ELLE Deco Japan. p. 86, 8/99

The New York Times, House and Home. CURRENTS; "A tipsy perch for wines" by Timothy Jack Ward. p. 3, July 29, 1999

Morgunblaðið. "Samspil hönnunar, myndlistar og tónlistar" by Hulda Stefánsdóttir Reykjavik, Iceland, p. 30, July 2, 1999

Society News. Newsletter of The Icelandic Society of Greater New York, 6/99

Review, New York, (Ad) p. 11, 6/15/1999

GRAPHIS, p. 112. #320, 1999

Beyond sarup no8. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 1999

DV  DAGBLAÐIÐ. "dingaling.net i New York" by Aðalsteinn Ingólfsson. Reykjavik, Iceland,  p.11, 4/29/1999

INTRAMUROS. Extramuros New York; "Olafur Thordarson, Dingaling Studio", Laetitia Wolff and Chantal Hamaide. Paris, France, p. 49, 9/1998

Mannlíf. "Uppáhaldsstadir Íslendinga í New York"  by Katrín Elvarsdóttir. Reykjavík, Iceland, p.34-35, 1998

Beyond sarup no7. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, p. 9, 1998

Arkitektatal. by Haraldur Helgason. Reykjavik, Iceland, p. 392-393, 1997

INTRAMUROS. "Lumieres Vivantes", by Chantal Hamaide. Paris, France, p. 15, 7/1997

Morgunblaðið. "Ágætt að fylgjast með byggingarlist utanfrá". Interview by Einar Örn Gunnarsson. Reykjavik, Iceland, p. 2, 12/1997

Arkitíðindi, Reykjavík, Iceland, p.1, 1/1997

Dómnefndarálit, Grafarholt, Iceland, 12/1996

Ímynd Miðbæjar Ísafjarðar, Iceland, 4/1996

Morgunblaðið. "Gárur-Undir fjallinu" by Elín Pálmadóttir. Reykjavik, Iceland, p. 10, 4/2/1995

Morgunblaðið. "Hugmyndir um husagerdir og skipulag naerri snjoflodasvaedum" by Olafur Thordarson. Reykjavik, Iceland, p. 32-33, 3/19/1995

Pressan. "From urban design to a coffee cup." Kópavogur, Iceland, p. 36, August 6, 1992

Abstract. Columbia Architecture Planning Preservation. Columbia University, p. 77, 1989-1990

Abstract. Columbia Architecture Planning Preservation. Columbia University, p. 31, 68, 1988-1989

Student Work. The University of Wisconsin -Milwaukee; p. 7, 8, 23, 1987

Images For Campus Development, University of Wisconsin, 1986

Publications of work made with Gaetano Pesce, 1990-1997



MISCELLANEOUS

Grafarholt urban design (to build) competition, Honorable mention by the City of Reykjavik and The Icelandic Architecture Association, 1996.

Hafnarfjarðarkirkja, architecture design competition Iceland, finalist 1990.

Manhattan Waterfront competition, in team with Paola Iacucci, Honorable mention 1987.



PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE OF NOTE

In New York City includes: James Barclay Associates, Michael Goldsmith Architects, Richard Cook & Associates, Kohn Pedersen Fox, I.M. Pei, MacDonald/Kolatan, Paola Iacucci, Peter Joseph, Smith and Thompson, Ted Moudis Associates, Thierry Despont, Tom Hanrahan/Columbia University.