During one very busy shift at my work, a woman handed me a couple of flyers advertising the Paisley Art Institute’s 136th annual exhibition. I had never heard about the Institute beforehand but decided to look into it.
I was shocked to discover the rich history of the Paisley Art Institute – it is the longest-running showcase for artist’s work in Scotland. Established in 1876, the institute was located in the Paisley Museum, where it was granted a dedicated exhibition space up until its closure in 2018. However, the newly renovated Paisley Museum left the Institute without a space, and they were forced to relocate. In 2024, the Paisley Art Institute moved its collection to The Glasgow Art Club on Bath Street.
The wooden floor creaked underfoot and echoed with every step up to the exhibition. When I entered, I was greeted by two institute members who had programmes available and soon noticed I was the only person in the exhibition. The atmosphere of the Art Club, had it been busier, would have felt very homely. There were tables and chairs laid out in amongst the exhibition, allowing for a bite to eat in between admiring the art on offer.
In the exhibition itself, there was a variety of pieces and forms of art including paintings, sculptures and even some metalwork. The paintings ranged from landscape art to portraiture, from real-life depictions to modern abstract art. There seemed no separation between them as they were all interspersed among each other, not segregated by form or content.
One piece in particular that stands out is a painting of the voco Grand Central Hotel by David Shuttleton. I was awed by the likeness of Glasgow that was portrayed in this piece – it almost looked like a photograph. The details are impressive, right down to the bus adverts and number plate.
The sculptures were very compelling. They, like the rest of the art pieces, ranged from classical to modern iterations. In one, a child’s life-like doll is encased in a plastic wrapper, surrounded by dummies, plastic straws and other varieties of plastic objects. At first glance, it looks out of place surrounded by classical paintings, but is thought-provoking – there is always a deeper meaning.
Visiting the Paisley Art Institute is an excellent way to appreciate local art and local history. It is so important to keep these art institutions and exhibitions alive and thriving
Fourth year English and Creative Writing Student.
Leave a Reply