Although figurative her forms have an amorphous quality, a deliberate lack of definition that is emphasized by her choice of materials and the sand casting method that she often employs. They have an anonymous quality, magical alchemical creations that she infuses with life, humanises and sets forth to take their place in the landscape. We, the viewers, respond to this in a way that we cannot with two dimensional works. We should and do engage in a private discourse with such figurative sculpture. Steinunn approves and indeed encourages this interaction. A personal, often tactile, response perhaps serves to confirm to the artist that her creation is vitally charged and not lifeless.
Peter Osborne, London
Steinunn has worked on figurative sculpture from the beginning of her career but she studied in the UK and Italy. That placed her works apart from her contemporaries and colleagues in the Icelandic visual art scene. Her figures are androgynous symbols of humanity. Her works are organic and explosive in their texture and formation. She uses many different materials to serve the ideas of her works. Steinunn's works have from the start been strongly linked to Icelandic nature. Man's conversation with nature, his surroundings and society are an integral part of her art.
Steinum has had numerous solo shows worldwide as well as participated in a number of group exhibitions and art fairs. Steinunn's work is in many important private and public collections worldwide.
Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir -