close projects info
greta þorkelsdóttir is a graphic designer and essay writer from reykjavík. she works mainly with culture-adjacent small businesses and independent clients, developing album artwork, visual identities and websites. In writing, she is concerned with the thin membrane between content and viewer, preoccupied with states of saturation, opacities and semiotics; the specificity in the distance between what that thing is, what it is called, what it means and what it leaves. Her most recent text is Mediumsized, published in the collection Trophy Logic in 2026.
greta@gretathorkels.net
Currently working on: Codex, a platform for collecting my writings, all in one place.
projects
other projects, publishing, radio, writings
Mediumsized
2026
A short essay published in Trophy Logic, a collection of texts by students in the Critical Studies department in Sandberg Instituut, conceived in a writing seminar with Mia You. Launched at San Seriffe with readings on May 28th, 2026.
Pocket Universe
2026
Graphic design for Ásta Fanney Sigurðardóttir's exhibition in the Icelandic Pavilion at the 61st edition of La Biennale di Venezia.
Monday L. Everson goes to Pristina
2026
A 10-day residency at Hajde! Foundation in the Grand Hotel Pristina, initiated and conceived with Miglė Lukoševičiūtė, centred on writing a collective novel from the point of view of one Monday L. Everson. The residency resulted in a writing workshop and group exhibition.
Thinkin' About
2026
A lecture/perfomance about Britney Spears conceived for the 3rd edition of Fruit Basket, a series of lectures on matters of non-work in Amsterdam.
Skaftfell
2025–
In-house graphic designer for the center of visual arts in East Iceland.
marvaða
2024–2025
In-house graphic designer at the label and creative nebula.
I've been thin(g)king, or: Deep Looking
2024
A text on thingpower written during Methods and Forms of Writing in SKH.
Á milli
2023–2026
Graphic design and event organisation for artist-run project space Á milli in Reykjavík.
Transformation Sequence by Drop Shadow Darling.
2024
Contribution comprised of a new short story, a found recording and a reading, to Michael Fowler's monthly radio show on IDA Radio in Tallinn, Estonia. You can listen to it here.
on sand
2023
A lecture on, about, and around my thesis project from EKA, for BA Visual Communication students at IUA.
on LungA
2023
A lecture about my time working as the graphic designer for LungA, for Visual Communication students at IUA.
Algae for design-led transition towards blue bio-economy
2023
Residency at Svefneyjar, as a part of a collaboration between IUA, EKA and Aalto University. With Paula Buškevica.
Errantry
2023
Errantry is an essay, a publication and a collection of drawings on searching for alternative ways of working, telling time and living. The project was exhibited at Display Garden Display – The EKA GD MA graduation show. The full text is available upon request.
oH Radio x Montez Press x Index Art Book Fair CDMX
2023
A parasite broadcast within a broadcast, aired during dead time between talks/panels and acts at the book fair in January 2023. Featuring a contribution by Steinn Helgi Magnússon. You can listen to it here.
The Word for World is a Grain of Sand
2023
A research-based text on various states of transparencies and its meanings – in the form of glass, rocks and sand. It is an MA Thesis and was exhibited as a part of Display Garden Display. The book was launched in Tallinn at EKKM and in Mexico City at Index Art Book Fair. The full text is available upon request.
Swimming in a River of Crystal Pepsi
2022
An oH Radio broadcast on glass, Crystal Pepsi, the Crystal Goblet and more. You can listen to it here.
Sand Was Never Meant to Think (That is Very Cruel to Rocks)
2022
An essay published in All Horses are the Same Color, a yearly publishing venture by EKA GD MA, produced in a workshop led by Lieven Lahaye.
This is a Story about a Rock Named Lucky
2022
Short fable on a rock's travels. Broadcast on oH Radio, as a part of the Silence after Early Hours EKA GD MA graduation show.
Signatúra Bookasafn
2021
A collection, exhibition and bookstore of independently published art books, artist books, nearly books. Commissioned by DesignMarch in Reykjavík and made in collaboration with Júlía Runólfsdóttir, Vala Sigþrúðar Jónsdóttir and Studio Allsber.
Signatúra Books/Studio
2020–21
Book publisher and design studio, initiated with Júlía Runólfsdóttir.
teachings
Farvegir og Form
2023, 2024
A course facilitating group conversations culminating in a book, a website and a show for 3rd year BA Graphic Design students at IUA. In collaboration with Hrefna Sigurðardóttir.
What's Your Portfolio
2024
A course on how to start creating a digital presence for work. For 3rd year BA Product Design students at IUA.
Air Chain
2023
One-week Sound and listening workshop, for BA Graphic Design students at EKA. The workshop culminated in a listening session broadcast live on oH Radio. You can listen to the live session here and the practice session here. Facilitated with Michael Fowler.
Softness Club
2021
1/8 of Laura Pappa's course Dream Big. A workshop for fellow MA Graphic Design students, in examining bodily strength and knowing and pushing your limits.
Forming Counterbalance
2021
Community IV – A semester-long workshop for 2nd year MA Design students in IUA culminating in a publication containing research for their graduation projects. In collaboration with Júlía Runólfsdóttir.
Bookmaking for Teens
2021
A workshop teaching teenagers to make their own sketchbooks as preparation for an art-leaning public summer school.
Zine me up!
2020
Workshop for 2nd year MA Design students where they wrote texts and created content from their research material. It became the publication Unzeen. In collaboration with Júlía Runólfsdóttir.
learnings
2025–2026
Critical Studies at the Sandberg Instituut in Amsterdam.
2024
Methods and Forms of Writing at the Stockholm University of the Arts.
2021–2023
MA in Graphic Design from the Estonian Academy of Art (EKA GD MA).
2017
Internship at Studio Yukiko.
2015
Exchange semester at AGD2, Faculty of Fine Arts at Brno University of Technology.
2014
Internship at Atelier Atli Hilmarsson.
2013–2016
BA in Visual Communication from the Iceland University of Art.