One of the many stars of famous Class of ’58
Ever since seeing her in an old black-and-white press photograph, I’ve been intrigued by Carole Gibbons. But opportunities to see her work first-hand have been few and far between.
The photograph in question, taken in 1958 at the old Mclellan Galleries on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street, sees Gibbons sitting stage left. She is one of 11 artist members of The Young Glasgow Group – including a very younglooking Alasdair Gray – who had set themselves up as a collective to show their art independently of the established art societies.
One of only three women in the group, Carole is holding a painting and all eyes are on her. The young artists are all recent graduates from the Glasgow School of Art (GSA). Several members of the group, including Gray, James Morrison, James Watt and Jack Knox, would go on to firmly establish themselves as stars on the art scene.
Despite being described by the late John Bellany as “Scotland’s greatest female painter”, Gibbons’ star didn’t rise at the same rate as her male counterparts.
Now 86, and still working in her Glasgow home studio, Gibbons’ paintings and the colours with which she works are distinctive. She takes time-honoured subjects – still life, landscape and figures – and veers off in a direction that is always recognisable but occasionally abstract.
The good news is that a new exhibition next weekend (Friday to Sunday) at Glasgow’s House For An Art Lover showcases recent work by this influential painter alongside a selection of drawings and paintings from the 1960s onwards.
The show, put together by From The Studio, also features the work of young New York-born, Gsa-trained Christian Noelle Charles.
A selection of work from both Gibbons and Charles will also be available to view and purchase online at www.fromthestudio.art following the exhibition.