Exhibition “Working Dogs” by Dutch Artist Philine van der Vegte at Deiglan Gallery, Akureyri  
April 19–20, 2025 | 14:00–17:00 | Deiglan Gallery, Kaupvangsstræti 23

This April, the Akureyri Art Museum welcomes Dutch artist Philine van der Vegte to its artist residency program. Known for her expressive oil paintings and dynamic ink drawings of farm animals, Van der Vegte will present the exhibition “Working Dogs” at Deiglan Gallery on April 19 and 20, from 14:00–17:00 each day. The show focuses exclusively on sketches in ink and in oils of Husky sled dogs.

Philine van der Vegte is a contemporary figurative artist, painting mostly in oils and ink. Her subjects are found close to her studio on a farm just north of Amsterdam, and include animals, portraits and landscapes, with a focus on the relationship between humans and domesticated animals. With bold brushstrokes and a sensitivity to movement and character, she explores the emotional and physical bonds we share with animals.

During her stay in Akureyri, van der Vegte immersed herself in the local scene, particularly through a collaboration with goHusky, the dog sledding company run by María and Gunnar. There, surrounded by over thirty huskies playing, sleeping, and working, she sketched from life in pen and ink, capturing their energy and individual personalities. These quick studies are worked out into expressive oil sketches on paper, created in the Akureyri Art Museum’s guest studio.

“Animals move, so I have to move with them. I sketch from life as much as possible—there’s a thrill in trying to get it right in one go,” van der Vegte explains. “The brushstroke in my painting is essential, and I aim to keep the freshness of my live sketches in the larger studio works.”

The exhibition includes both the raw directness of her on-site sketches and the depth of her larger oil works. All pieces are for sale during the Easter weekend showing.

Philine van der Vegte studied at the Wackers Academy in Amsterdam and exhibited across Europe. Her work has appeared in several Dutch museums and art fairs. This is her first solo presentation in Iceland.


Exhibition Dates:  
April 19–20, 2025  
Opening hours: 14:00–17:00  
Location: Deiglan Gallery, Kaupvangsstræti 23, Akureyri  
Free admission