Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir

Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir is an Icelandic professor of art history, novelist, playwright, and poet. She was born in Reykjavík in 1958 and studied art history at the Sorbonne in Paris. She has lectured in art history at the University of Iceland and was formerly the director of the university's art museum. Her work often explores themes of human existence, the position of women, war, loneliness, and the search for meaning. She is known for her elegant, flowing, and poetic language, often infused with sweetness, humor, and seriousness. Ólafsdóttir also writes lyrics for the Icelandic band Milkywhale. Her novels have been translated into over 25 languages.