Faculty members of IUA are all practising artists and experts in their field of work. Distinguished former students and faculty members at IUA include:
Fine Art: Bryndís H. Snæbjörnsdóttir, Carl Boutard, Egill Sæbjörnsson, Elín Hansdóttir, Hekla Dögg Jónsdóttir, Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir (Shoplifter), Hugleikur Dagsson, Ólöf Nordal, Ragnar Kjartansson, Sigurður Guðjónsson, Monika Larsen Dennis.[6]
Music: Atli Ingólfsson, composer. Bára Gísladóttir, composer and musician. Guðmundur Steinn Gunnarsson, composer and musician. Hildur Guðnadóttir, composer and musician. Ólöf Arnalds, singer/songwriter and musician.
Performing Arts: Baltasar Kormákur, director and actor. Ebba Katrín Finnsdóttir, actress. Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir, actress and musician. Hannes Óli Ágústsson, actor. Karl Ágúst Þorbergsson device theatre. Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, dancer and choreographer. Kristín Þóra Haraldsdóttir, actress. Matthías Haraldsson, vocalist of Hatari & playwright. Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, actor. Sigríður Soffía Níelsdóttir, dancer and choreographer. Stefán Karl Stefánsson, film and stage actor. Þorleifur Örn Arnarson, theatre director and playwright.