GYRÐIR ELÍASSON?
WHO IS
Photo: Nökkvi Elíasson
Gyrðir Elíasson was born in Reykjavík on April 4, 1961. He moved north with his parents to Sauðárkrókur at the age of two and lived there until his early twenties. He is from Borgarfjörður eystri and therefore spent a lot of time there in the summer, with his grandparents on his mother's side. He completed his matriculation exam from the Polytechnic College in Sauðárkrókur in 1982 and then went south to the University - more specifically literature studies. The following year, he tried his hand at Iceland's Teachers College, but quickly found out that it wasn't for him. He still lived in Borgarfjörður eystri for one winter and taught art, but in fact he was primarily writing there. After the winter there, it was quite clear to him that teaching did not suit him, and the idea had begun to form in him to deal with writings as a life's work.
He lived for some time in the west, in Borgarnes and Akranes, but later in Reykjavík and has worked almost all his adult life in writing, he has published a number of works of various kinds: poetry books, novels and collections of short stories. His first published book is the poetry book Svarthvít axlabönd from 1983. His first novel was published in 1987, Gangandi Íkorni, but that story is based on a book he wrote at the age of five with the same title. He is also an active translator, including books about and by Native Americans, and has translated four of the novels of the American author Richard Brautigan.
He have wrote more than 40 books, novels, poems, short stories and short stories. His books have been translated into twelve languages and they have become more than 50 in number and have been published in many parts of Europe. There have been 25 translations. See more.
Gyrðir has received various awards and nominations for his works and translations, including the Icelandic Literature Award in 2000 for the short story collection Gula húsið and the Nordic Council Literature Award in 2011 for the short story collection Milli trjánna and also the Icelandic Translation Award in 2012 and 2015, to name just a few. See more.
In recent years, Gyrðir has turned more and more to the art of painting and, among other things, has illustrated some of his own book covers. He held a painting exhibition 2024 in Garður with over 1200 miniatures. That show attracted a lot of attention and attendance and received a lot of praise. He maintains a robust website where you can find samples of his images. See more.
Gyrðir now lives in Reykjavík and is married to Kristína Snorradóttir. Together they have two daughters, Sigfrið Rut and Theódóra. Gyrðir also has a daughter Elísa from a previous marriage and two grandchildren from her. Gyrðir's parents were Ásthildur Ísidóra Sigurðardóttir (d. 2024) and Elías Björn Halldórsson (d. 2007), an artist. His brothers are photographer Erlingur Nökkvi and painter and poet Sigurlaugur.