Cover of The Way by Cary Groner, featuring Thorgrimur Einarsson’s painting Krummi 56. Photo courtesy of the artist.
We’re proud to announce that Icelandic artist Thorgrimur Einarsson, represented by Abend Gallery, has had one of his powerful raven paintings selected as the cover art for The Way, a new novel by Cary Groner published by Spiegel & Grau.
The artwork, Krummi 56, captures the haunting presence of a raven in flight—rendered in Einarsson’s signature painterly realism. Its expressive brushwork and emotional gravity made it a natural fit for the book’s moody, dystopian setting.
That energy and magnetism spoke directly to the book’s atmosphere and themes. The cover came together after the publisher reviewed dozens of concepts—ultimately landing on Einarsson’s painting as the strongest visual expression of the story’s spirit.
A Visual and Narrative Connection
The synergy between Krummi 56 and The Way extends beyond aesthetics. Groner’s novel—a post-pandemic odyssey set in 2048—follows a Buddhist monk, a teenage survivor, and a highly intelligent raven named Peau as they journey across a transformed American landscape. The raven is not just a companion, but a central character—making Einarsson’s painting a poignant and fitting choice.
Ravens hold deep cultural meaning in Iceland, where they are seen as symbols of wisdom, resilience, and transformation. The Icelandic word Krummi, used affectionately for the raven, connects the painting to centuries of folklore and myth. That symbolism resonates powerfully in the novel’s themes of survival, redemption, and the bond between humans and the natural world.
About the Artist: Thorgrimur Einarsson
Thorgrimur Einarsson was born in Reykjavík and began his creative career as a composer before discovering painting in his early 30s. Since then, his work has explored Iceland’s wild landscapes and native wildlife with a deep emotional and cultural resonance. He works primarily in oil using the Alla Prima technique—painting wet into wet to capture spontaneity and vitality.
Einarsson’s Krummi series, to which Krummi 56 belongs, is a heartfelt tribute to the raven, a creature that embodies both wildness and wisdom. His work is internationally collected and exhibited, including right here at Abend Gallery.
About the Book: The Way by Cary Groner
Published in December 2024 by Spiegel & Grau, The Way blends dystopian fiction, spiritual reflection, and thrilling adventure. The story follows Will Collins, a Buddhist caretaker tasked with transporting a potential cure across a ruined America—accompanied by a raven, a cat, and a teenage girl.
Critics have described it as The Road meets Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, praising its emotional depth and visionary world-building. The inclusion of Einarsson’s artwork on the cover signals the novel’s unique tone: lyrical, meditative, and rich with symbolism.
Art Meets Story
This collaboration between artist and author is a powerful reminder of how visual art can elevate storytelling—and vice versa. For Einarsson, it’s a meaningful step into new cultural spaces, reaching readers, critics, and collectors around the world.
Whether you’re discovering Krummi 56 through the book or exploring Einarsson’s broader body of work, we invite you to dive deeper into the art that inspired this remarkable cover.