The Akureyri Art Museum unveils Nodens, Sulis & Taranis, a striking new exhibition by British-born, Iceland-based creator James Merry. Best known for his collaborations with Björk and his visionary approach to embroidery and mask-making art, Merry here turns his focus to ancient history. The show presents three new headpieces inspired by Romano-Celtic archaeological finds, transforming fragments of Iron Age ritual into contemporary works of art.
James Merry’s masks: modern echoes of ancient ritual
At the heart of the exhibition are three newly unveiled James Merry masks, each reinterpreting Iron Age adornment through meticulous craftsmanship. By drawing on archaeological discoveries from his native southwest England, Merry translates history into symbolic forms that resonate with today’s culture of performance and identity.
One highlight is the Taranis mask, referencing Iron Age chain headdresses unearthed in Surrey. While the originals were never tied to a specific deity, Merry connected their wheel-like patterns to Taranis, the Celtic god of thunder. Constructed in his Icelandic studio from solid brass, silver, and garnets, the mask’s swirling “S” motifs suggest planetary cycles, storm turbulence, and the eternal wheel of time.
The concept behind ‘Nodens, Sulis & Taranis’
Through these three works, Merry revisits the sacred visual codes of the Iron Age, presenting them not as relics but as living symbols. The exhibition also includes photographs and documentary material capturing the creation process, allowing audiences to see how traditional craftsmanship evolves into contemporary mask-making art.
James Merry artist at work
Merry’s practice has long blurred the boundaries between fine art, craft, and fashion. Known as an artist with a distinctive visual language, he has worked with institutions such as the V&A and Gucci, and alongside creatives including Tim Walker, Iris van Herpen, and Tilda Swinton. His masks and embroideries, often rooted in organic and mythological forms, challenge viewers to see costume as more than adornment—it becomes ritual, identity, and transformation.
Step inside James Merry’s studio in our conversation, where he shares his approach to hand-embroidery, mask-making, and creating art that merges human and natural forms.
