Opening New Year’s Day 2024, the National Galleries of Scotland celebrates the return of their keenly awaited annual display, Turner in January.
Taking pride of place in one of the upper galleries of Edinburgh’s Royal Scottish Academy, Joseph Mallord William Turner’s watercolours from the Scottish national collection will be exhibited throughout the month of January, free for the public to enjoy. Turner in January is a beloved tradition for many people in Scotland. It signals the dawning of the New Year, and as we leave behind the darkest days of winter, the bright vitality of Turner’s work is exactly what we need.
Scotland’s famous collection of Turner watercolours was left to the nation by the great art collector Henry Vaughan in 1900. Since then, following Vaughan’s strict guidelines, they have only ever been displayed during the month of January, when natural light levels are at their lowest. Because of this, these watercolours still possess a freshness and an intensity of colour, almost 200 years since they were originally created.
With almost 40 watercolours on display, including dramatic landscapes from the Himalayas, the Swiss Alps, and the Isle of Skye, visitors will journey through Britain, Europe and beyond, leaving behind January blues in favor of Turner’s idyllic views of the world.
Turner in January will also include a Smartify audio highlights guide, a brand-new addition to the exhibition for 2024. Freely available on their devices, visitors can immerse themselves further into Turner’s work through this highlighted guided tour of the exhibition, giving fresh insights and expanding on what is presented on the gallery walls.
This mesmerising exhibition captures the essence of the life and career of the 19th century London-born artist, with the works on display covering the breadth of Turner’s artistic talents. In a career spanning 50 years, Turner developed new ways of painting in watercolour and revolutionised ideas of what could be achieved in the medium.
Through a combination of exceptional talent and incredible hard work, he was able to capture in paint the sublime beauty of the natural world. Turner experimented with an array of techniques and colour, creating works which continue to captivate and excite audiences today.
Charlotte Topsfield, Senior Curator of British Drawings and Prints at National Galleries of Scotland said: “Henry Vaughan personally selected the watercolours in the bequest to share the full range and richness of Turner’s work with the widest audience.
“From early landscape drawings to glorious colour studies, delicate literary illustrations and visionary late watercolours, Vaughan’s Turners wonderfully demonstrate the artist’s infinite creativity and technical skill.
“Putting the Turner watercolours on show is a highlight of my year and I hope that it brings everyone else as much pleasure!”
Isabella Miller, Director of Audience at the National Galleries of Scotland said: “Turner in January brings with it an uplifting start to a new year at the National Galleries of Scotland.
“It’s with great joy we witness the excitement from our returning visitors, along with the wonder this display brings to those discovering it for the very first time. Turner in January honors the legacy of Henry Vaughan’s bequest, while creating a now treasured tradition for many.
“It’s also a wonderful opportunity to marvel in the skill of our conservation and curatorial teams, who ensure the year-round care of these beloved watercolours, allowing them to be displayed and enjoyed each January.”
Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: The yearly celebration of Turner’s watercolors invites us to enjoy vibrant colours, showcasing the beauty of our natural world.
“From the Swiss Alps to the Isle of Skye, the exhibition offers an uplifting escape from any January blues. I’m delighted that support from Postcode Lottery players, who have now raised over £5 million for National Galleries of Scotland, is making art and exhibitions like this free and accessible for all.”
Turner in January is open to the public from 12pm on Monday 1 January.
Ken Currie’s Unknown Man, a portrait of the preeminent forensic anthropologist, Professor Dame Sue Black, has been acquired by the National Galleries of Scotland.
This arresting portrait has been on long loan to the gallery since 2021 but has now been secured for the nation permanently. This acquisition ensures the continued enjoyment of this poignant work, currently available to view for free at the Portrait gallery.
Unknown Man depicts one of the most distinguished, internationally famous contemporary Scots, Professor Black. Currie’s large-scale painting shows her in surgical robes standing behind the covered remains of a body.
The idea for the portrait grew when Currie and Professor Black met during a BBC Radio 4 discussion on the relationship between art and anatomy.
Currie later visited the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification at the University of Dundee, where Professor Black was Director. The artist was so moved by the work he encountered there that he asked her to sit for a portrait.
The title Unknown Man was given by Currie and relates to the essential aim of a forensic anthropologist – to identify remains and restore the identity of the deceased – while also referencing the covered body depicted in the painting.
Currie bestows Professor Black with the qualities of impassivity and sternness in his portrait. She stands, stock still and full-face, arms spread equally, holding the trolley before her. Professor Black wears dull blue scrubs and before her, under the dark green shroud, is stretched the most minimal or rudimentary indication of the corpse – which could be said to be the attribute of her profession.
Artist Ken Currie (born 1960) is renowned for his unsettling portrayal of the human figure, often large-scale, dramatic canvasses of startling originality.
His work prompts powerful responses as he deals with difficult, profound themes through figurative paintings which are carefully considered and painstakingly executed.
Currie’s subjects often emerge from darkness, suggesting fearful dramas which are all the more disturbing because so much is suggested but not explicitly articulated.
Currie also has another much-loved work in the national collection, Three Oncologists. This 2002 painting depicts three professors who were leading innovators in cancer research at the University of Dundee and its affiliated teaching hospital, Ninewells.
It shows the three, emerging from the darkness as modern-day heroes, battling on our behalf on the front line between life and death. Currie regards Unknown Man as being connected to Three Oncologists, and a progression from this work.
With both works currently on display in The Modern Portrait exhibition, visitors have a special opportunity to experience both in the same space. Unknown Man gives rise to strong feelings and emotions. Professor Black had a visibly emotional reaction when she saw the painting for the first time in 2021.
Sir John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries ofScotland said: “We are delighted to have acquired this powerful and moving work which has already generated a lot of interest and comment from our visitors.
“The Portrait gallery provides the perfect setting for this outstanding painting which now has a permanent home alongside other images of pioneers in the fields of science, sport and the arts.”
Professor Sue Black, said: “It was such a wonderful experience to work with Ken and I am so grateful that the portrait has been so well received even if it is a bit scary!
“I feel honoured that this has been acquired by the National Galleries of Scotland and secured for the nation permanently. It all feels more than a little surreal.”
Ken Currie, said: “I am delighted that Unknown Man has been acquired by the National Galleries of Scotland and will continue to hang in the Portrait gallery where it will hopefully inspire a new generation of young women to follow in the illustrious footsteps of Sue Black.”
Jenny Waldman, Director of Art Fund, said: “I’m so pleased that Art Fund has been able to support the National Galleries of Scotland to acquire this important painting.
“I am sure that it will continue to delight and inspire visitors to the Portrait gallery for many years to come.”
The National Galleries of Scotland has announced that its blockbuster exhibition, Grayson Perry: Smash Hits, was visited almost 100,000 times in its four-month run. Since opening on 15 July, 95,852 visits were booked to enjoy the celebration of Sir Grayson Perry’s 40-year career at the National (Royal Scottish Academy) before it closed on Sunday 12 November.
On show exclusively in Edinburgh, Grayson Perry: Smash Hits explored the remarkable 40-year career of contemporary cultural icon, Sir Grayson Perry.
Visitors were able to enjoy over eighty works, including richly detailed tapestries, subversive pots and elaborate plates – some of which were on public display for the first time.
Developed in close collaboration with the artist, the exhibition renounced the tradition for chronological displays. Instead, Perry’s work was presented as a journey through themes including masculinity, sexuality, class, religion, politics and identity.
Grayson Perry: Smash Hits was the National Galleries of Scotland’s most visited exhibition in over ten years, and the fourth most visited since the reopening of the refurbished exhibition galleries in the RSA building in 2003.
Surpassing all expectations, over 10,000 people were welcomed in the first two weeks alone. The final weekend, which offered extended opening hours to allow as many people as possible to experience the exhibition, with over 2,200 visitors each day.
Home to Scotland’s superb art collection, the National Galleries of Scotland operates three galleries in Edinburgh.
At the National visitors can discover treasures from Botticelli to Titian, as well as the world’s largest collection of works by artists from Scotland. The Portrait gallery is packed with famous faces from history and contemporary portraits of pop culture icons, while Modern showcases the very best modern art.
As well as conserving and researching the national collection, the National Galleries of Scotland is committed to reaching the widest possible audience through an active programme, including partnerships across Scotland, the UK and abroad, as well as online.
Visitors enjoyed sharing their experience of Grayson Perry: Smash Hits with feedback captured by National Galleries Scotland throughout the duration of the exhibition. Some notable takeaways included:
“So accessible. I loved his commentaries. It is the only exhibition I have ever been to and laughed out loud.”
“I have never been to an exhibition where almost all of the visitors were smiling and laughing.”
“This was the best, most thought-provoking exhibition I’ve been to in years!”
Sir Grayson Perrysaid: “It was one of the most enjoyable and proud exhibiting experiences of my career. Many thanks to the brilliant team at the National Galleries of Scotland and the people of Scotland!”
Sir John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland,said: “Welcoming almost 100,000 visitors to Grayson Perry: Smash Hits is a significant and proud moment for the National Galleries of Scotland.
“It has been a privilege from the start to work with Sir Grayson Perry in bringing this phenomenal exhibition to the people of Scotland. The response from our visitors, through their verbal and written feedback, photos they’ve shared and online engagement, has been incredible to witness.
“My congratulations and thanks to Sir Grayson – it has been smashing!’
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Eduardo Paolozzi’s birth, in Paolozzi at 100
Explore the first ever retrospective by Edinburgh-based artist Everlyn Nicodemus
Meet Johannes Vermeer’s A Young Woman Standing at a Virginalin Edinburgh
See Images and Voices from Scotland’s Mining Communities
Immerse yourself in the work of Do Ho Suh
National Galleries of Scotland announces an extraordinary programme of unmissable free and ticketed exhibitions for 2024, on sale now.
Take a trip with Lavery on Location, feel empowered by Women in Revolt!, get lost in Drawings from Chatsworth House, marvel at the eccentric world of Paolozzi at 100or embrace thedefiant and inspiring works ofEverlyn Nicodemus, there is even more to be discovered across all three gallery sites in Edinburgh.
Visitors can indulge their wanderlust in National Galleries of Scotland’s summer exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy, An Irish Impressionist: Lavery on Location, from 20 July 2024 to 27 October 2024.
Dip your toes in the sun, sea and society of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, through the works of renowned Glasgow Boy, Sir John Lavery. Travel through the extraordinary life of the Belfast born artist, from Scotland to New York via Paris and Morocco.
Witness sumptuous portraits, impressionistic landscapes and idyllic scenes of leisure against a backdrop of Tangier, Palm Springs and the Venice Lido. Be whisked away to Switzerland, Spain, Ireland and Italy, as well as cities such as Glasgow, Seville, Monte Carlo and New York.
At Modern Two, be inspired by stories of collaboration, creativity and rebellion as National Galleries of Scotland presents Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK 1970-1990 from 25 May 2024 to 26 January 2025.
Touring from Tate Britain, this major survey of feminist art celebrates the women who challenged and changed the face of British culture. Discover the powerful and often provocative work of over 100 artists and collectives forged against the backdrop of seismic social, economic and political change over two decades.
Women in Revolt! explores key themes and issues, such as the Women’s Liberation Movement, Punk and independent music, the visibility of Black and South Asian women artists and the AIDS epidemic.
Showcasing painting, drawing, textile, sculpture, performance, film and photography alongside archival materials – with many artworks on display as part of this tour for the first time since the 1970s – this timely and urgent show is one not to be missed.
For the first time ever in Scotland discover Dürer to Van Dyck: Drawings from Chatsworth House, home to the Devonshire family. From 9 November 2024 – 23 February 2025 get a closer look at one of the finest and most significant holdings of drawings anywhere in the world, at the Royal Scottish Academy.
A spectacular group of 50 Flemish, Dutch, Early Netherlandish, and German drawings and watercolours, spanning from about 1500 to 1700, will be exhibited. Look forward to stunning drawings by Rembrandt, Holbein, Rubens, Dürer, van Dyck and more. Not to be missed, this exhibition is exclusive to the National Galleries of Scotland.
In January 2024 celebrate 100 years since the birth of Scottish ‘father of Pop’ Eduardo Paolozzi at Modern Two. Packed with the artist’s most popular works, Paolozzi at 100allows you take a step inside the whacky and eclectic mind of the artist and his take on popular culture and the machine age.
Tour through his early work from the late 1940s, to his designs and prints of the 60s and 70s, and later epic public art projects. Delve in to works such as his Mickey Mouse tapestry made with Dovecot Tapestry Studio and graphic and gold ceramic plate collaborations designed with Wedgwood.
Marvel at his colourful mosaic designs for Tottenham Court Road Underground station, and don’t miss the kinetic energy of the Calcium Light Night and Moonstrip Empire news screenprints. Free to visit, Paolozzi at 100 runs from 27 January 2024 to 21 April 2024.
Marking the bicentenary of the National Gallery in London, we have National Treasures: Vermeer in Edinburgh.
This incredible artwork A Young Woman Standing at a Virginal comes to Scotland, presenting a unique chance to see two works by Vermeer at the National in Edinburgh.
Compare one of Vermeer’s later works with one of his earliest surviving paintings, Christ in the House of Martha and Mary which is on permanent display at the National. A Young Woman Standingat a Virginal will open on 10 May 2024, the 200th birthday of the National Gallery, along with the rest of the National Treasures programme across the UK.
Explore the history and lasting impact of coal through photographs and voices from Scottish mining communities, as National Galleries of Scotland responds to the 40th anniversary of the Miners’ Strike of 1984.
In a powerful free exhibition at the Portrait from 23 March 2024 until September 2024, Before and After Coal: Images and Voices from Scotland’s Mining Communities hears from those who are the lifeblood of these, once booming, areas.
In 1982, American photographer Milton Rogovin came to Scotland to photograph Scottish miners – at their pits, in their homes, and during their leisure time.
Artist, Nicky Bird has updated Rogovin’s documentation of these communities by meeting with individuals and families connected with the photographs, who share their views on the past and the present in these former mining towns and villages.
From 19 October 2024 – 25 May 2025 get ready for the first ever retrospective exhibition by Tanzania-born, Edinburgh-based artist, Everlyn Nicodemusat Modern One.
Discover works spanning 40 years of the artist’s life, as well as new works created especially for this show. This inspiring free experience is made possible by the prestigious Freelands Award won by Everlyn Nicodemus and National Galleries of Scotland in 2022.
Believing that creativity can be a form of healing, her exceptional artworks are a powerful response to the global oppression of women, the profound impact of racism and her personal trauma and recovery.
Experimenting with colour, form and mark making her practice invites us to explore and question our understanding of identity, belonging and faith. This ambitious exhibition celebrates Nicodemus as a painter deeply invested in the social fabric of her time.
It will be accompanied by an inclusive and welcoming programme of community engagement, taking inspiration from the artist’s collaborative ways of working.
The much-lovedTurner in January returns to the Royal Scottish Academy. The free annual display of these watercolours is a keenly awaited tradition for many people in Scotland. At the dawning of the New Year, as we leave behind the darkest days of winter, the bright vitality of Turner’s watercolours is just what we need.
There is also the chance to see further works by Turner at Duff House. National Galleries of Scotland hold the only complete set of Turner’s finished vignette illustrations that remain together in the same collection; these form his 20 watercolours for The Poetical Works of Thomas Campbell, published by Edward Moxon in 1837.
For the first time in over 20 years, these illustrations are on show at Duff House for selected dates until Sunday 24 March. Also on display at Duff House until Sunday 25 August 2024 is the iconic portrait of the infamous romantic poet Lord Byron by William Edward West, 1822.
Launched in 2009 in partnership with Tate, the hugely successful ARTIST ROOMS programme will continue to share the superb collection of modern and contemporary art across Scotland and the rest of the UK. Exhibitions in 2024 include Louise Bourgeois at Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum from 2 March 2024 to 9 June 2024 and Vija Celmins at Dunoon Burgh Hall from 17 May 2024 to 18 August 2024.
A first for National Galleries of Scotland and for Scotland, immerse yourself in the wondrous imagination of one of the world’s leading contemporary artists, Do Ho Suh: Tracing Time, from 17 February 2024 – 1 September 2024.
In this major solo exhibition by the South Korean-born, London- based artist, experience works, some never-before-seen, that ask: where and when does home exist? Discover the artist’s compelling and technically innovative thread drawings – in which multicoloured threads are embedded in handmade paper – shown alongside animations, architectural rubbings, paper sculptures, printmaking, watercolours and the artist’s sketchbooks.
This free exhibition takes over an entire level of Modern One, with works spanning 25 years of the artist’s practice. The exhibition includes an immersive installation of Suh’s famed ‘hubs’, life-size sculptures that recreate physical spaces meaningful to the artist and his life in colourful, translucent fabric.
In this wide-reaching and timely exhibition, drawing is the connective thread that binds together Do Ho Suh’s creative energies.
Opening this winter, discover 500 years of boundary-pushing artwork in The Printmaker’s Art: Rembrandt to Rego at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh. At this National Galleries Scotland exhibition, visitors can explore four galleries packed with around 100 artworks by some of the world’s most iconic artists, including Rembrandt, Hokusai, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Bridget Riley and Paula Rego. The Printmaker’s Art: Rembrandt to Rego is on from 2 December 2023 until 25 February 2024.
Summer 2024 will also see a celebratory display of two rooms of works by internationally renowned Scottish artist Bruce McLean, to mark his 80th birthday. Free to visit at Modern One, trace Bruce’s humorous and lively six-decade long inquiry into sculpture and revel in his criticisms of the art world from within.
Through works made across a range of media – including photography, performance, painting, printmaking, film, and ceramics – this display invites you to challenge your thinking about sculpture and expand your ideas of what it can be.
You’ll also be met with works that reveal Bruce’s fascination with every aspect of human behaviour. From the trivial to the outright brash, you’ll encounter gestures, manners, the ‘theatre’ of social interaction, and the style and posturing of those who are intent to impress.
Sharp, witty and satirical, this unmissable display showcases the breadth of Bruce’s boundary-pushing work across two rooms and spotlights him as one of the most important artists of his generation.
In 2024 the National Galleries of Scotland will mark a significant 40 years since the beginning of its photography collection, with a spectacular exhibition at the Portrait. Showcasing the birth of photography through to the present day, the exhibition celebrates Scotland’s world-renowned collection.
Sir John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland said: ‘There is so much for visitors to look forward to next year at the National Galleries of Scotland, with our tantalising 2024 exhibition programme.
“Whether immersing yourself in Sir John Lavery’s idyllic beach scenes, soaking up the history of Women in Revolt! or stepping into the eclectic world of Eduardo Paolozzi, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
“Our four galleries are yours to discover, from the world’s greatest collection of Scottish art at our new Scottish galleries, international highlights at the National, the very best contemporary art at the Modern and famous faces from history to pop culture at the Portrait, we can’t wait to welcome you.’
Woodblock print
Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji; Thunderstorm Below the Summit
Katsushika Hokusai
Japan
ca.1831
Colour print from woodblocks
This winter, discover five hundred years of boundary-pushing artwork in The Printmaker’s Art: Rembrandt to Rego at the National (Royal Scottish Academy) in Edinburgh.
Visitors can explore four galleries packed with around 100 artworks by some of the world’s most iconic artists, including Rembrandt, Hokusai, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Bridget Riley and Paula Rego. The Printmaker’s Art: Rembrandt to Rego opens on 2 December 2023 till 25 February 2024, with tickets on sale now from the National Galleries of Scotland.
Bringing together the very best examples of fine art printmaking from Scotland’s national collection; The Printmaker’s Art: Rembrandt to Rego includes early woodcuts, such as Albrecht Dürer’s incredible Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, through to bold, punchy pop-art idols such as Roy Lichtenstein’s Reverie and Andy Warhol’s The Cow. The exhibition also looks to the future, with a range of new artworks acquired through the Iain Paul Fund on display together for the first time.
These acquisitions include work from contemporary printmakers such as Tessa Lynch, Lucy Skaer, Lucy McKenzie and Christian Noelle Charles. Visitors will also have a unique opportunity to see art on loan from public and private collections, including exceptional prints by Katsushika Hokusai, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Yinka Shonibare and Cornelia Parker, which will grace the walls of the National (Royal Scottish Academy) especially for this exhibition.
The Printmakers Art: Rembrandt to Rego takes a striking visual journey through a fascinating spectrum of printmaking techniques.
From historic trailblazers to contemporary movements, old traditions to new visions, revered artists to the creatively curious, printmaking achieves an array of distinct visual effects which would not be possible in other mediums.
It is also one of the most widely accessible forms of artistic expression; starting with a basic handprint on a page, printmaking has the power to evolve into something daring, bold, provocative and new.
At the heart of The Printmaker’s Art: Rembrandt to Rego is a celebration of the skills and processes which form an integral part of this traditional yet ever evolving and much-loved artform.
See films of printmakers at work and get up close to discover how you can spot an etching from a lithograph, or woodcut from wood engraving. The fundamental processes developed in the 15th century printing press are ever-present in the bustling print workshops of today.
Artworks on show will demonstrate how this has evolved, including the ingenious ways contemporary artists are developing new and sustainable processes, alongside utilising digital technologies, to secure the future of printmaking for generations to come.
Scotland’sprintmaking story is key to the exhibition, not only through the artworks on display, but through a series of films from print studios across the country at the forefront of contemporary printmaking. There is also a unique opportunity for visitors to see the tools and working materials used to make prints featured in the exhibition, on loan from the artists themselves.
Sir John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland said: “Printmaking is an enduring art form that continues to capture the imagination and ignite a spark of inspiration.
“The Printmaker’s Art: Rembrandt to Rego at the National (Royal Scottish Academy) offers an exciting opportunity to see some of the most popular works from Scotland’s national collection alongside several important loans.
“The exhibition gives visitors a chance to come face to face with many revered artists from the last five hundred years, all while discovering more about this beloved practice.
“This is also a chance to put our homegrown printmakers in the spotlight, proudly displaying work by contemporary artists who are consistently pushing the boundaries of creativity in Scotland and beyond.”
The Printmaker’s Art: Rembrandt to Rego opens at the National on Saturday 2 December 2023.
National Galleries of Scotland has announced extended opening hours throughout the final weekend of its blockbuster exhibition, Grayson Perry: Smash Hits, at the National (Royal Scottish Academy) due to phenomenal demand.
To make sure everyone can see Grayson Perry: Smash Hits, the Royal Scottish Academy will be open from 9am until 9pm on the 10, 11 and 12 November, with tickets on sale now.
Only a few more weeks remain to explore the remarkable 40-year career of contemporary cultural icon, Sir Grayson Perry. On show exclusively in Edinburgh, the exhibition has exceeded all expectations, welcoming over 10,000 people in the first two weeks alone.
Visitors can see over eighty works, including richly detailed tapestries, subversive pots and elaborate plates – some of which are on display for the first time.
Grayson Perry: Smash Hits has been developed in close collaboration with the artist. Much like Perry, the exhibition doesn’t play by the rules, renouncing traditional chronological displays in favourof presenting Perry’s work as a journey.
Smash Hits leads audiences through the many themes embedded within his provocative art, including masculinity, sexuality, class, religion, politics and identity.
There’s also a chance to tour Smash Hits with the artist himself, through a free audio guide of 19 works, available via Smartify. Let the artwork come to life through Perry’s engaging and witty commentary, as he discusses the wide range of inspirations and stories locked within each object.
The exhibition brings together Perry’s meticulously detailed prints and imaginary maps along with many of his tapestries. This includes the rarely shown Walthamstow Tapestry (2009) which, at a striking 15-metres in length, presents a birth-to-death journey through shopping and brand names.
There’s also an opportunity to encounter the intricate cast-iron ship, Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman (2011). A collection of new works, some completed this year, have been presented to the public for the first time, including the tapestry Sacred Tribal Artefact (2023), and a series of pots and plates exploring themes of national identity.
Perry’s latest pots, such as A Plague of Diaphobia (2022) and Ye Olde English Pot (2023), are presented in the form of medieval beer flagons. Decorated with traditional slipware techniques, they reference subjects ranging from the polarising effect of internet to heraldic iconography.
Sir John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland,said: “It has been a privilege to see the excitement and enthusiasm shown towards Grayson Perry: Smash Hits since it opened in the summer.
“With thousands of visitors pouring through the doors every week, the demand for Sir Grayson Perry’s inspiring body of work is evident. The National Galleries of Scotland are delighted to announce our extended opening hours during the exhibition’s final run.
“We hope they can allow as many people as possible to see the largest exhibition of Sir Grayson Perry’s work before we must close the doors in November.”
Visitors can take advantage of a bumper three days to say a fond farewell to what has been a truly smashing experience. Don’t miss the final chance to see Grayson Perry: Smash Hits at the National (Royal Scottish Academy).
The National Galleries of Scotland is delighted to announce that the stunning new Scottish galleries at the National will open to the public this Saturday (30 September 2023).
Ahead of the public opening local children joined National Galleries of Scotland Director General, Sir John Leighton, Chief Curator Patricia Allerston, Culture Minister, Angus Robertson, and The National Lottery Heritage Fund Director for Scotland, Caroline Clark to mark the special occasion in a ribbon cutting ceremony. The children were then among the first to explore the new galleries, before taking time to create their own art, right in the centre of the new spaces.
A free experience for everyone to enjoy, right in the heart of Edinburgh’s city centre, the new Scottish galleries at the National showcase the very best historic Scottish art. With 150 years of Scotland’s art to discover in the contemporary and fresh new spaces, visitors are sure to recognise some much-loved favourites as they travel through the galleries.
Transforming the visitor experience and more than doubling the physical display space, 12 breathtaking galleries allow visitors to dive into dramatic landscapes, encounter iconic images and be wowed by art from 1800 to 1945.
Spectacular views over the city entice visitors to come in and discover the work of pioneering Scottish artists such as William McTaggart, Anne Redpath, Phoebe Anna Traquair, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Glasgow Boys.
The new Scottish galleries at the National will bring the nation’s artistic heritage to life – from much-loved Scottish Colourists as well as major works from the first half of the twentieth century to stellar works from the early 1800s onwards.
New ways of looking at Scotland’s natural and built environments will be on offer, with early photographs of Scotland’s capital city shown in the same spaces as grand paintings of majestic Highland landscapes, including works such as Landseer’s Monarch of the Glen.
Reimagined displays of drawings and sketches will celebrate artists such as Glasgow Style pioneer Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh and Alloa-born David Allan, whose depictions of ‘Edinburgh Characters’ will allow visitors to get up close to street life in the Scottish capital in the late eighteenth century.
The new galleries are easier to access than ever before, to ensure that the greatest number of people can discover the fascinating Scottish art on display. They have an accessible path in east Princes Street Gardens, new lifts, a partial changing place facility, accessible entrance, accessible toilets and a pram store.
These fresh new spaces will showcase the nation’s magnificent collection of historic Scottish art in new and engaging ways. With a series of new trails, audio guides and events, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
With even more to explore across the National, there will also be five new international hangs at the Mound level to enjoy, offering in total over 460 artworks to discover.
These galleries feature international superstars such as Poussin, Gauguin, Monet, Chardin and Canaletto. The new Scottish galleries at the National also includes three new areas specifically designed to display drawings and other fragile artworks, which will change regularly throughout the year.
Sir John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland, said:“With this project we set out to transform the experience of visiting the National and to show the world’s greatest collection of Scottish art with real pride and ambition.
“With the new Scottish galleries at the National, we have achieved these aims and more. The gallery is more accessible than ever before and there is a stunning new display of 150 years of Scottish art in all its richness and depth. From this Saturday, everyone is welcome to discover a brilliant new experience, free, in the heart of our nation’s capital.”
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “The National Galleries of Scotland has the world’s finest collection of Scottish Art and I’m delighted that the new galleries will now have space to showcase this to a national and international audience.
“We have supported this redevelopment project from the start with a significant contribution of £15.25 million and it’s wonderful to see the new galleries open, allowing everyone to enjoy them.”
Caroline Clark, The National Lottery Heritage Fund Director for Scotland said: “National Galleries of Scotland have created a truly world-class facility showcasing Scotland’s distinctive and internationally important artistic heritage.
“This iconic building at the heart of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site is safeguarded for the future, creating a focus for our cultural and economic renewal.
“We are proud and excited to welcome the world to Edinburgh to enjoy the new galleries. We believe heritage helps us to understand who we are and where we are from; and so, we join with the National Galleries of Scotland in declaring this is a place for the people of Scotland.
“Our support for this project is thanks to National Lottery players and we encourage them to visit as soon and often as they can.”
The total project cost is £38.62 million. This has been funded by major contributions from the Scottish Government (£15.25m) and The National Lottery Heritage Fund (£6.89 million).
An extremely successful fundraising campaign raised over £16m thanks to an extraordinarily generous response in donations from trusts, foundations, Patrons, the National Galleries of Scotland’s Friends organisation, American Patrons and a wide range of private individuals.
National Galleries of Scotland invites audiences to discover a contemporary cultural icon this summer, as it proudly unveils the largest ever exhibition dedicated to the work of Sir Grayson Perry.
Opening this Saturday andtaking over the entire Upper Galleries of the Royal Scottish Academy, Grayson Perry: Smash Hits offers visitors a chance to embark on an exclusive retrospective journey through the celebrated artist’s remarkable 40-year career.
National Galleries of Scotland hosts the one and only opportunity to see this exhibition, granting all who pass through the doors of the Royal Scottish Academy an audience with Perry’s lifetime of creation.
This comprehensive exhibition, which encompasses more than eighty works, some of which displayed for the first time, has been developed in close collaboration with the artist and Victoria Miro gallery. Grayson Perry: Smash Hits has been kindly sponsored by the Jigsaw Foundation and Friends of National Galleries Scotland.
Sir Grayson Perry has gone from taking evening classes in pottery to winning the Turner Prize.
He’s renowned for presenting television programmes on Channel 4, writing acclaimed books and commanding audiences far and wide during his live tours. An artist in every sense of the word, his accessible approach to art and engaging public persona has elevated Perry to the status of household name, and more recently, earned him a knighthood.
Always keen to do the unexpected, pottery was Perry’s chosen method in which to indulge his fascination with sex, punk, and counterculture amongst other things, showcasing his interests in the most unlikely and polite of art forms.
Today, he is one of Britain’s most celebrated artists and cultural figures. Grayson Perry: Smash Hits not only includes his most famous works, but also the first pieces he made as a student in Portsmouth. Works that would ignite a passion and pave the way for an illustrious career to be born. One such treasure on display is Perry’s earliest plate, made during his first week at evening class, Kinky Sex (1983).
Much like Perry, the exhibition doesn’t play by the rules, renouncing traditional chronological displays in favourof presenting his work as a journey; one which will lead audiences through the many themes embedded within his provocative art, including masculinity, sexuality, class, religion, politics and identity.
Expect subversive pots, intricate prints, elaborate sculptures, and huge, captivating tapestries – each imbued with Perry’s sharp wit and social commentary.
Grayson Perry: Smash Hits brings together almost all of the artist’s meticulously detailed prints and imaginary maps along with many of his tapestries, such as the rarely shown Walthamstow Tapestry (2009) which, at a striking 15-metres in length, presents a birth-to-death journey through shopping and brand names.
There’s also an opportunity to encounter the intricate cast-iron ship, Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman (2011) which was the centrepiece of Perry’s 2011 exhibition of the same name at the British Museum. The tomb is a memorial to all the anonymous craftsmen of history.
Two rooms centre on the monumental tapestry series: Vanity of Small Differences (2012), which focus on class and are loosely based on William Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress, as well as A House for Essex tapestries(2015), which explore the life of a fictional Essex woman Julie Cope.
While the breadth of the exhibition offers a retrospective take on the artist’s career to date, it also looks to the future. A collection of new works, some completed within the last few months, will be displayed for the first time, including the richly detailed tapestry Sacred Tribal Artefact (2023), and a series of pots and plates, all of which explore themes of national identity.
Perry’s latest pots, such as A Plague of Diaphobia (2022) and Ye Olde English Pot (2023), are presented in the form of medieval beer flagons. Decorated with traditional slipware techniques, they reference subjects ranging from the polarising effect of internet debate to heraldic iconography.
Finally, fans of the recent Channel 4 docuseries Grayson Perry’s Full English will come face to face with notable objects featured on the popular series.
Full English followed Perry as he travelled around the country to try and uncover what Englishness means today, inviting interviewees to select personal items which to them represented English identity.
Piqued by the opportunity to show some of these items, alongside his new works which focus on Englishness in Scotland, Perry has included several objects in the exhibition. From a pub sign to a football flag, and a teacup to a letter from the Queen, they highlight not only the individuality and significance of cultural identity, but how artistic treasure can be found in many forms.
Sir Grayson Perry said: “I feel honoured, excited and also daunted by the thought of seeing the largest ever exhibition of my work this summer in Edinburgh.
“Honoured to be given such an opportunity in such a fine gallery, excited to share my smash hits with the Scottish audience and the festival crowds. Daunted because whenever I walk amongst a substantial show of my art the same thought floods into my head, ‘oh my god the man hours!’
“Just one of the grand rooms like those of the Royal Scottish Academy could easily hold two, three, four years of my studio life such is the density of my works. These objects contain so much for me, my hopes, my ideas, my lusts, my laughter, my pride, my love. What they contain more than anything is my time. Forty smashing years.”
Sir John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland,said: “This exhibition, the biggest Grayson Perry show ever held anywhere in the world, offers a unique opportunity for visitors to discover the scope of the artist’s practice.
“It has been forty years since Sir Grayson Perry first started making his pots and plates, and twenty years since he gained international acclaim when he won the Turner Prize; it is the ideal moment to celebrate Perry’s achievements to date.”
Beth Butterwick, CEO of Jigsaw said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring ‘Grayson Perry: Smash Hits’ at the National Galleries of Scotland. It’s an honour to be a part of such an all-encompassing exhibition, showcasing the work of one of Britain’s most celebrated artists: Sir Grayson Perry.
“Along with an unwavering passion for the arts in Britain, and a trailblazing reputation, Jigsaw’s partnership with the National Galleries of Scotland was a natural fit. Dedicated to supporting the arts in many forms, the Jigsaw Foundation is proud to be one of the lead sponsors for the Grayson Perry: Smash Hits exhibition’.
Discover Grayson Perry: Smash Hits at the National (Royal Scottish Academy) from 22 July until 12 November 2023. Pre booking is advised.
Visitors to the National can now explore the spectacular Your Art World exhibition, showcasing the artwork of creative 3–18-year-olds from Scotland. The nationwide call out has inspired over 500 incredible young artists from across the country to get involved.
The Your Art World project aims to engage with young people and encourage them to think and act more creatively. Having uploaded their creations digitally to National Galleries of Scotland’s website, the artwork is now proudly displayed on screens at the National.
The young people could be as imaginative as they liked and use any type of materials for their creations, resulting in a superb collection of artworks. The exhibition is a celebration of what happens when young people are encouraged to be wildly imaginative with no limitations.
Your World celebration day at the National Galleries.
Four community and school groups, from the Scottish Highlands to the Borders, also worked alongside the National Galleries of Scotland to create physical installations. Groups involved included Dounby Community School and Nursery, secondary schools from across the Scottish Borders and Granton Primary.
A group of children and their families from PAMIS, an organisation in Scotland working with people with profound and multiple learning disabilities for a better life, are also featured.
The result is a creation of extraordinary displays ranging from environmentally inspired projects made with rubbish collected from the shores of Orkney to stunning paintings, drawings, and 3D sculptures, along with sensory led artwork by the PAMIS group.
Families and young people inspired by the creativity will also be able to get involved in making their own creations in the galleries this Summer. With a specially created ‘make and share’ area allowing them to produce and upload their own work to the website. There is also the added bonus of having their artwork added to the digital showcase on the screens.
Your World celebration day at the National Galleries.
Siobhan McConnachie, Head of Learning and Engagement, National Galleries of Scotland, said: “I feel so excited and proud to be showcasing the artwork of the talented young artists of Scotland.
“The response has been truly inspiring and we have been so impressed with everyone’s creativity. The Your Art World project is incredibly important to us at National Galleries of Scotland as it hands over the creative process to young people and celebrates their work.
“Art has its place in every school, home and young person’s life, whether that be encouraging people to think creatively, use it as an expressive outlet or simply for some fun, this project and exhibition celebrates that art really is for everyone.”
Your World celebration day at the National Galleries.
Dounby Community School Head Teacher, Islean Gibson, said:“Being part of such an amazing gallery exhibition has given everyone here at Dounby School such a sense of pride and motivation.
“Sharing our thoughts and ideas as part of a national project has really inspired our whole school community. The power of creation will have a lasting legacy.
“It makes me swell with pride every day seeing just how impactful creativity can be for a wee school and its community. I would wholeheartedly recommend everyone take that step into Your Art World and see where it takes you!”
The exhibition is part of a wider Your Art World project which aims to engage and encourage young people in the world of art. With online resources available for teachers and families to support children in art-based activities, the project encourages everyone to get involved no matter ability or knowledge. By providing tools and guidance, Your Art World demystifies the creative process and makes art accessible to everyone.
The exhibition is made possible thanks to funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, who have raised more than £5 million awarded by Postcode Culture Trust to support National Galleries of Scotland.
All submissions can be viewed via the online gallery and will also be displayed digitally at the National until 14 April 2024.
Neil Hanna
www.neilhannaphotography.co.uk
07702 246823
The National Galleries of Scotland has announced the acquisition of Patrick Moir, (1769–1810), 1785‒6 by the celebrated Scottish artist, Sir Henry Raeburn. Marking the bicentenary of Raeburn’s death on 8 July 1823, this unique portrait is now on display and available to view for free at the National in Edinburgh.
This exciting new acquisition joins the most comprehensive and internationally important collection of Raeburn’s work, held by the National Galleries of Scotland on behalf of the nation. The national collection also includes Raeburn’s much loved and incredibly popular ‘Skating Minister’ painting, Reverend Robert Walker (1755‒1808) Skating on Duddingston Loch, about 1795, also on display at the National.
Patrick Moir, 1769–1810, gives important insight into Raeburn’s early development as an artist. The painting depicts a known individual but also owes much to a fashionable type of composition or ‘fancy picture’ – half-portrait and half-genre – which was internationally popular at the time.
This rare portrait was painted in Rome at a key moment in Raeburn’s life and career, and is the only known portrait dating from his one study visit to Italy (from 1784‒6). It will join the National Galleries of Scotland’s significant holdings of art relating to Scots undertaking a ‘Grand Tour’ of Italy, including works by Allan Ramsay and William Aikman. In spite of the great expense involved, many artists aspired to travel to Italy in the 18th and 19th centuries, like the so-called ‘Grand Tourists
During his visit to Rome, Raeburn’s most influential acquaintance was James Byres of Tonley (1734–1817), a well-known dealer in antiquities and ‘Old Master’ paintings. Byres was also a popular tour guide, especially for Scottish ‘Grand Tourists’. Patrick Moir, 1769–1810 is a portrait of Byres’s young nephew, the son of Reverend George Moir (1741–1818) of Peterhead in North East Scotland.
Neil Hanna
www.neilhannaphotography.co.uk
07702 246823
In time, Patrick managed his uncle’s business and became known as the ‘English Banker in Rome’ and a supplier of funds to Cardinal York, brother of Prince Charles Edward Stewart. The portrait is believed to have been commissioned by Byres and is the only known full-scale portrait associated with Raeburn’s visit to Italy. It remained in Rome with the rest of Byres’s art collection during the turmoil of the city’s invasion by French revolutionary troops. Its survival and eventual return to Byres in Aberdeenshire is one of the many fascinating stories attached to this unassuming portrait.
Sir Henry Raeburn (1756–1823) was the top Scottish portrait painter of the late 18th and early 19th century. In his lifetime he painted more than 1000 canvases, despite lacking any formal artistic training.
He was born in the village of Stockbridge, then on the outskirts of Edinburgh and was later apprenticed to a local goldsmith. This is when he began experimenting with portrait miniatures, eventually progressing to full-scale portraits.
From the late 1790s Raeburn established himself in a spacious custom-built studio at Number 16 (now 32) York Place on the eastern edge of Edinburgh’s Georgian New Town. In 1819 he was elected to the New York Academy of the Fine Arts. Three years later he was knighted during George IV’s State visit to Edinburgh, followed by appointment as portrait painter to the King in Scotland.
To celebrate the anniversary of Sir Henry Raeburn, and this new acquisition, the National Galleries of Scotland hosted a free public lecture on Tuesday 4 July.
Available online or in person at the National, Senior Curator Helen Smailes explores the origins and wider cultural context of this rare pictures, together with Raeburn’s fascination with sculpture.
Neil Hanna
www.neilhannaphotography.co.uk
07702 246823
National Galleries of Scotland Senior Curator, Helen Smailes, said:“This fascinating painting has been a cherished heirloom of the Moir-Byres family since 1785 and is a remarkable survivor of the French invasion of Italy in the 1790s.
“Raeburn’s only known portrait painted in Rome, its acquisition has transformed the Galleries’ internationally important holdings of his work. We are delighted to have been able to save Patrick Moir for the nation in Raeburn’s bicentenary year, with the unwavering commitment of the Moir-Byres family and generous support from The Art Fund.”
Jenny Waldman, Director, Art Fund, said: “This rare painting is the only known surviving full-scale portrait from Sir Henry Raeburn’s stay in Italy, a formative moment in the artist’s career.
“I’m thrilled that Art Fund has been able to support this important acquisition, where it will join the National Galleries of Scotland’s world-leading collection of Raeburn’s work for the public to enjoy for many years to come.”
Neil Hanna
www.neilhannaphotography.co.uk
07702 246823
The National Galleries of Scotland acquired the painting through the Private Treaty Sale scheme, which allows private owners to sell items considered to be culturally pre-eminent to national organisations without recourse to an auction process and with prices beneficial to both.
The acquisition was enabled by £54,000 support from Art Fund, together with funds from the Cowan Smith and Treaty of Union Bequests (National Galleries of Scotland).
