Sunneva Ása Weisshappel b. 1989
Sunneva Ása Weisshappel
Sunneva Ása Weisshappel (b. 1989) is an Icelandic artist working across painting, sculpture, performance, and video art. She holds a BA in Fine Arts from the Iceland University of the Arts (2013) and a joint MFA in Fine Arts from Goldsmiths, University of London, and the Iceland University of the Arts (2024).
Sunneva’s work is an evocative exploration of femininity, revealing both its delicate charm and its raw, unspoken complexities. She weaves together themes of time, beauty, and aggression, juxtaposing softness with grit through materials such as hair, steel, latex, and lace. Her artistic practice challenges both herself and the audience, creating psychological and emotional dialogues through her chosen mediums.
In addition to fine art, Sunneva has worked extensively in theater and film as a production designer, as well as a set and costume designer. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and she has participated in multiple artist residencies.
Painting and performance remain at the core of her practice, though she frequently experiments with unconventional platforms. Her canvases, often sewn together in layers, undergo different treatments, resulting in multifaceted works that feel raw, layered, and deeply connected to time and process. Through her work, Sunneva challenges perceptions of self and space, using art as a mirror to reflect the emotional and psychological landscapes of the present moment.
-
Glup, 2024 -
Tension3, 2024
-
Tension5, 2024
-
"Flagð undir fögru skinni" / "The dogs shall eat Jezebel", 2023
-
Brynja / Armor, 2023
-
Dylgja III / Canards III, 2023
-
Dylja / Masked, 2023
-
Hylma / Conceal, 2023
-
Nothing Tastes As Good As Skinny Feels, 2023
-
Nothing Tastes As Skinny Feels II (Kate Moss), 2023
-
Pískur / Whip, 2023
-
Secrets, 2023
-
White Horse, 2023
Education
2023- Iceland University of the Arts, M.F.A. Fine Art.
2021-2022 Goldsmiths University of London, M.F.A. Fine Art.
2009-2013 Iceland University of the Arts, B.A. Fine Art.
2009-2011 Klassíski Listdanskólinn, Contemporary dance.
2005-2008 Fjölbrautarskólinn í Breiðholti, Visual Art.
1997-2006 Listdansskóli Íslands, Contemporary Dance and Classical Ballet.
Solo Exhibitions (selected)
2023 Odd Girl Out, Robilant+Voena, New York, USA
2023 Jezebel, Þula, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2022 New Work, Robilant+Voena, London, England.
2021 Umbreyting, Þula, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2018 Metamorphosis, Gallerí Port, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2018 Sugar Wounds No.04, Ármúli 7, Reykjavik, Iceland.
2012 Ylhýra, Kaffistofan, Reykjavík, Iceland.
Group Exhibitions (selected)
2022 Our Body Are Portal, Asylum Chapel in Peckham, London, England.
2021 Vol.no 1, Þula, Hjartatorg, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2020 Tíðarandi, Listasafn Árnesinga, Hveragerði, Iceland.
2018 Sugar Wounds No.01, Ármúli 7, Reykjavik, Iceland.
2018 Raunir, B Plan Art Festival, Borgarnes, Iceland.
2015 Hörund, Kynleikar, Ekkisens, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2015 Dauðaherbergið, Lunga Art Festival, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland.
2015 Hera/Hóra, Algera Fiesta Flow, Algera Studio, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2015 Flaggskip, Hávaði, Ekkisens, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2015 The Death Room, off-venue Sequences Art Festival VII, Algera Studio, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2014 Bæjarleyfi, Ekkisens, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2014 Hrekkjavaka, Algera Studio, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2014 Natura Mater, Umbreyting Einars, Listasafn Einars Jónssonar, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2013 Hávaði, Kaffistofan, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2013 Welcome: Play Me and Do You Want to Ride? Reykjavik Art Museum, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2013 Stabi Project, Ateliers de Bitche, Nantes, France.
2012 Snertu Mig, Kaffistofan, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2011 Homies Where My Heart Is, Laufásvegur basement, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2011 Welcome to The Greenhouse, Sequences Art Festival, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2010 Me to The Export of The It, Lunga Art Festival, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland.
2010 Do Not Cover, Æringur Art Festival, Stöðvafjörður, Iceland.
Cinema work
2022- Touch, Production design, Rvk Studios and Focus Features, Iceland.
2023
2020- Trapped III, Production design, Rvk Studios and Netflix, Iceland.
2021
2019- Katla, Production Design, Rvk Studios and Netflix, Iceland.
2020
2017 Mules, Actress, Rvk Studios, Iceland.
Theatre work
2019 Zoo, Future X, Director, Sydhavn Theater, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2018 Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare and Prokofiev, Costume design,
State Theatre at Gärtnerplatz, Munich, Germany.
2018 Die verlorene Oper, Ruhrepos, Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, Costume design,
Staatstheater Hannover, Germany.
2017 Guð Blessi Íslands, Costume design, Reykjavík City Theater, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2017 Siegfried, The Ring of the Nibelung, Richard Wagner, Costume, Choreography, and
Video Design, Staatsoper Karlsruhe, Germany.
2017 Álfahöllin, Costume design, National Theater of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2017 Hamlet, William Shakespeare, Costume, and Art Design, Staatstheater Hannover, Germany.
2016 Óþello, William Shakespeare by Vesturport, Costume design,
National Theater of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2016 Othello, William Shakespeare, Costume Design and Choreography,
Staatsschauspiel, Dresden, Germany.
2016 Enemy of the Duck (Enemy of the People + The Wild Duck), Ibsen, Costume Design
and Choreography, Norwegian National Theatre, Oslo, Norway.
2016 Mutter Courage and her Children, Costume, and Video Design, Bertolt Brecht,
Hessian State Theatre of Wiesbaden, Germany.
2015 Njála, Costume design, Reykjavík City Theater, Iceland.
Video art and music videos (selected)
2023 Odd Girl, exhibited at Odd Girl Out, R+V, New York, USA.
2021 Self Portrait, exhibited at New Work, R+V, London, England and Physical Cinema festival,
Bíó Paradís, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2018 What’s Your Secret, music video for the Icelandic rock band Mammút.
2018 Salt, music video for the Icelandic rock band, Mammút.
2018 Ró, music video for the Icelandic rock band, Mammút.
2016 Goldiggaz, music video for the French pop band, We Are Z.
2016 Crazy Little You, music video for the band, Cryptochrome.
2015 Óráð, music video for Icelandic Reggie band, Amabadama.
2015 Blood Burst, the music video for the Icelandic rock band Mammút.
2014 The Rose, video artwork exhibited Bæjarleyfi, Ekkisens, Reykjavík, Iceland
2014 Síðasti dansinn, music video for Chamber Orchestra; Kúbus, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2014 The Backbone, music video for the Icelandic band Rökkurró.
2014 Þau Svæfa, the music video for the Icelandic rock band Mammút.
2013 Do You Want to Ride, experimental movie, Reykjavík Art Museum, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2011 Nine, experimental video artwork, Icelandic University of the Arts, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2011 Flaggskip, video artwork exhibited at Hávaði, Ekkisens, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2011 Hress Með Nananana, video artwork series, Home is Where my Hart Is, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2009 Golden Dick Dance, video art performance, Reykjavík, Iceland.
Work experience (selected)
2017 Artist in residency program, Disco Art Festival, Oqaatsut, Greenland.
2016 Artist in residency program at Le Wonder, Paris, France.
2015 Í Næsta Lífi, performer in music video, XXX Rottweiler Hundar.
2014- Manager of Algera Studio, artist studios, residency program and exhibition space,
2017 Reykjavík, Iceland.
2014 Performer in the music video Crossfade, directed by Tommy Kha, for the band GusGus.
2009 Performer in Democracy is a Mishmash of Dead Animals in a Bun, by Steinunn Gunnlaugsdóttir.
2009 Performer in the film Baby Bird, directed by Katrín Ólafsdóttir.
Nominations and awards
2022 Nominated for the best production design, at Eddan the Icelandic Cinema awards for Katla,
RvkStudios/Netflix, Reykjavík, Iceland
2019 Nominated for the best dance/choreography show of the year at the German Faust awards,
for Romeo and Juliet, Costume design, State Theatre at Gärtnerplatz, Munich, Germany.
2017 Nominated as costume designer of the year at Gríman, the Icelandic performing art awards,
for God Bless Iceland, Reykjavík City Theater, Iceland.
2016 Nominated for a theatre performance of the year at Heddaprisen, The Norwegian Theater
Awards, for Enemy of the Duck, Costume Design and Choreography, Norwegian National
Theatre, Oslo, Norway.
2015 Costume Designer of the year, at Gríman, the Icelandic performing art awards, for Njála,
Reykjavík City Theater, Iceland
2015 Nominated for music video of the year, at Northern Wave film festival for Óráð, Director,
Reykjavík, Iceland.
2015 Nominated for music video of the year, at Northern Wave film festival for Blood Burst,
Director, Grundafjörður, Iceland.
2014 Nominated for music video of the year, Þau Svæfa, at the Nordic Music Awards, Director,
Oslo, Norway.
2014 Nominated at the Northern Wave film festival for Þau Svæfa, Director, Grundafjörður, Iceland.
2014 Nominated for music video of the year, at the Icelandic Music Awards, The Backbone, Director,
Reykjavík, Iceland.
2014 Nominated for music video of the year, at Northern Wave film festival, The Backbone, Director,
Grundafjörður, Iceland.
2013 Album Cover of the Year, at the Icelandic Music Awards for the cover design of the album
Komdu til mín Svarta Systir, Mammút, Reykjavík, Iceland.
-
Sunneva Ása Weisshappel
Flagð 8 Jul - 12 Aug 2023Flagð // Jezebel, is an intimate dance between corrosive elements of femininity, a candid exploration of nuanced social relationships, layered with thinly veiled power struggles and the longingfor connection. Long...Read more -
Sunneva Ása Weisshappel
Undirlög / Layers 6 - 28 Feb 2021Read more
