In 1986, the district association of the west part of the city funded a competition for a new outdoor sculpture to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the city of Reykjavík. Jón Gunnar´s Sun Voyager won the compitition, and the aluminium model (42,5 x 88 x 36 cm ) was presented to the city for enlargement. The full-sized Sun Voyager was eventually unveiled on Sæbraut on the birthday of the city of Reykjavík, August 18th , 1990

The work is constructed of quality stainless steel and stands on a circle of granite slabs surrounded by so-called “town-hall concrete” .The engineering of the sculpture was supervised by the technologist Sigurjón Yngvason and overseen by the artist Kristinn E. Hrafnsson in close cooperation with Jón Gunnar himself, the building itself was carried out by Reynir Hjálmtýrsson at Orri, Mosfellssveit.