Ruth Smith: One of the Greatest Artists in Faroese Art to Date and Her Lasting Legacy

Self-Portrait in Red (1955)

Ruth Smith (1913 - 58) was a highly talented artist born in Vágur, a small village on the Faroe Islands. She spent several years in Denmark, where she honed her skills as a painter at the Bizzie Højer Art School and the Art Academy of Copenhagen.

In 1945, Ruth Smith married the architect Poul Morell Nielsen and moved to Lemvig, Denmark. But eventually, she and her husband returned to the Faroe Islands, settling in the village of Nes, located on the Vágsfjørður fjord between Vágur and Porkeri.

Ruth Smith was a master of colour, using her sensitivity to create stunningly vibrant landscapes that captured the unique light of the Faroe Islands. Her work was heavily influenced by Impressionism, with a touch of realism, which made her paintings incredibly unique and enchanting. Two of her self-portraits, painted in 1955 and 1956, are among the most important paintings in the Faroe Islands, now housed in the Faroe Islands Art Museum.

Located at the heart of the village of Vágur stands the Ruth Smith museum, housed in an eye-catching building that boasts a brown and yellow color scheme.

To commemorate Ruth Smith's legacy, the Ruth Smith Art Museum was established in Vágur, in the old school Ruth Smith had attended as a child. The museum features a collection of her paintings and drawings, including the self-portrait from 1941, also used as the cover of a book about the artist by Dagmar Warming.

Unfortunately, Ruth Smith's life was cut short in 1958 when she drowned while swimming in the Vágsfjørður fjord. She may have died from hypothermia.  

Her incredible art and impact on the art world continue to inspire and captivate people worldwide. 

For opening hours, contact Visit Suðuroy in Vágur. The address for the Ruth Smith museum is Vágsvegur 101, 900 Vágur. 

A new book (2021) by the author Nils Ohrt about Ruth Smith and two other famous Faroese artists is available here>

Tune in to the radio program Nón that includes an interview with Nils Ohrt, author of the book on the Faroese artists Ruth Smith, Ingálvur av Reyni, and Samuel J. Mikines, by clicking on this link. The interview starts at around the 29-minute mark.