‘It tells much of my life story’
ARTIST’S CAREER IN THE FRAME AT NEW EXHIBITION
ANEW exhibition charting the career of “cultural colossus” John Byrne opens at Kelvingrove today. The Paisley-born artist and playwright said he was delighted A Big Adventure, the first retrospective of his work for two decades, would be displayed in a museum he loved.
John explained: “It’s been a real pleasure working with Glasgow Museums on this retrospective. I’ve been in and out of Kelvingrove my whole life.
“It’s a delight to be reunited with works I’ve not seen in years, especially as they are hanging on the walls of a place I and so many people love.”
The exhibition includes work from his early life, working as a carpet designer for AF Stoddard and Co and studying at Glasgow School of Art; elaborate artworks he produced for TV and stage, including storyboards for the 1997 film version of his revolutionary play, The Slab Boys and works from Tutti Frutti; and several instruments on which John has painted his musician friends, including a guitar featuring Gerry Rafferty.
Paintings from John’s Underwood Lane series, his latest play which will be at the Tron Theatre this summer, will also be on display. (It is named after the Paisley street where Gerry Rafferty was born and features a rich mix of Rafferty’s songs as it follows the life of Teddy Boys in Paisley.)
Among the exhibition’s main attractions is a room displaying more than 40 self-portraits, the most ever displayed at one time, spanning John’s whole career. The earliest is from 1963 depicting his time in Perugia, Italy, straight after art school, the latest from 2020.
John has also painted many famous faces, including Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson. A Big Adventure brings these together with more intimate studies of close family and friends.
Bailie Annette Christie, chairperson of Glasgow Life, said: “John Byrne is a true Scottish cultural colossus.
“This captivating new exhibition, the first at Kelvingrove since 2019, proudly celebrates one of Scotland’s most successful sons and shows why he is rightly considered one of the most gifted artists of the last 70 years. His works are prized in collections around the world and Glasgow Life Museums are proud to be among their number.
“Byrne’s story is an inspirational one. He came from a working-class background, had many jobs before embarking on a successful artistic career and often talks of the importance of visiting the library and museums while growing up. We hope this exhibition is a visual feast for many and may provide a similar spark for future generations of Scottish artists and writers.”
Martin Craig, Curator of Art post-1945 at Glasgow Life Museums, said: “It’s been an absolute joy working with John on this exhibition. I’ve always been a fan, but learning more about his work, getting to know the man himself and listening to what friends and family have to say, I’m in awe.”
John added: “I’m glad that with the help of so many friends who have loaned artworks we’ve been able to showcase a really broad range, from murals to storyboards and everything in between.
“I suppose you could say it tells much of my life story. I hope visitors enjoy it, seeing art should be fun. For me it’s certainly been a fun, Big Adventure all these years.”