Online Artist Archive

Armann, Kristinn Palmi
b. April 14, 1889; d. October 26, 1966
Discipline: Painting, Sculpture

Kristinn Armann’s parents were Icelandic nationals who, in 1878, emigrated to Nova Scotia before relocating to Winnipeg. They eventually settled on a farm near Gardar, North Dakota, a small community near Mountain in the northeastern part of the state. It was on this farm that Armann was born.

Armann studied art at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota and at the Art Institute of Chicago before he returned to farming near Gardar.

His interest in art never waned, however, and he continued to create paintings and sculptures that were exhibited all over the state.

In 1959, Armann moved to San Luis Obispo, California, where he took employment as a custodian at California Polytechnic State University and devoted his spare time to painting.

At the time that he died at age 77, he was survived by his wife Svandis; their sons Bjorn (West Allis, Wisconsin) and Kjartan (Los Gatos, California); daughters Svanlang Hughes (Bakersfield, California), Margaret Wilmot (San Luis Obispo, California), and Anna Pabst (San Jose, California); a sister Valgethur Hjartson (Iceland); twelve grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

- Ben Nemenoff

Bibliography:

Barr, Paul E. North Dakota Artists. Grand Forks: University of North Dakota Library, 1954.

Obituary. San Luis Obispo County Telegram-Tribune, October 28, 1966.