Iceland review - 2016, Qupperneq 24

22 ICELAND REVIEW
When I was little, I dreamt of pea-
cocks and palm trees, colorful
birds and butterflies,” describes London-
based Icelandic artist Kristjana S.
Williams. Her work, which features the
striking birds and butterflies of her child-
hood dreams, has garnered attention in
many parts of the world. Although she
lived in Iceland until the age of 20 (she is
now 42), neither Arctic terns nor ptarmi-
gans tend to appear in her creations—no
more than do dandelions and buttercups.
As a little girl, maps from geography
class were a favorite of hers; she decorat-
ed them with exotic birds and foliage and
dreamt of faraway destinations she hoped
to one day visit.
MAPPING OUT MURALS AND MORE
After having completed her studies in
electronics, Kristjana left Iceland for
London, where she worked for a few
years as a quantity surveyor on building
sites. Then her life took a new turn,
which would take her back toward her
childhood dreams. She studied graphic
design and illustration at Central Saint
Martins, graduating in 2003. As an adult,
her fascination with maps—and faraway
places—has not diminished.
She now has her own studio in
London, carrying her name, where she
employs five designers. Her diverse work
includes wall murals in the form of elab-
orate maps, which incorporate images
of exotic animals and lush vegetation.
Kristjana also designs fabric for furni-
ture, wallpaper, prints, book covers, pil-
lows and dresses.
To make these intricate creations, she
layers Victorian engravings. “I purchase
19th century engravings, no longer cop-
yrighted, and color them, sometimes
in the computer, sometimes by hand.
My work is essentially collage. I put a
hundred things together and multiply
them,” she explains, adding that her
work is threefold. “There are the works
of art and limited-edition prints; then
there’s commercial and commissioned
work; and, finally, there are the brand-
name items.”
Kristjana S. Williams has made a name for herself as an artist of exceptional
colors. Her work adorns anything from book covers to the walls of buildings.
Vala Hafstað spoke with her about her creations.
TRUE COLORS
PHOTOS BY LEIGH KEILY.