Icelandic Artist
Julius Hafsteinn
My goal as an artist is to tie a thread between the new and the old from an Icelandic perspective. Filling a gap in history, faith and culture with art that never got to exist. To tell stories of people, animals and places so that they may not be forgotten. We are much more connected with the past than people often realise.
Julius Hafsteinn (1994) is an Icelandic oil painter working between Iceland and Poland. Rooted in realism, his practice combines meticulous observation with bold, expressive brushwork. Working primarily in wildlife, portraits, and historical subjects, he draws inspiration from the natural world, faith, human history, and tradition, with a recurring interest in heroism, resilience, and the strength required to endure adversity.
For Julius, painting is a way to connect with creation and the past—to better understand the world, honour what is sacred in it, and share a sense of wonder with others. Through his work, he seeks to bring timeless stories into conversation with modern life, exploring themes of faith, struggle, glory, and sacrifice for a greater good. His aim is to create images that are not only visually compelling, but carry a deeper sense of meaning, reminding us of beauty’s enduring power to move the human heart.
His work includes a series devoted to the European bison, alongside paintings of warriors, historical cultures, and landscapes in which the beauty and power of the natural world take centre stage. He primarily works in oil on canvas and wooden panels, adapting his approach to each subject, from historically researched compositions to more intuitive and spontaneous depictions of animals and landscapes.
Julius’s background in film studies has profoundly shaped his visual thinking, sense of narrative, and professional approach to image-making. He maintains his own studio in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, while also spending time painting in Poland, where his wife is from. Working professionally as a painter, he has sold numerous works and welcomes commissions, new projects, and visitors interested in experiencing his creative process firsthand.