SCOTS artist Gerard M Burns’ portraits of Billy Connolly and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will be shown at a public exhibition of his work at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) this month.
Burns’ portrait of the university’s chancellor, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, will be exhibited alongside portraits of celebrated Scots including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, comedian Billy Connolly and actors Brian Cox and Karen Dunbar as well as a selection of current works including Ordinary Angel and On into Winter to celebrate the £32 million transformation of GCU’s city-centre campus.
GCU principal and vice-chancellor Professor Pamela Gillies CBE FRSE said: “I am delighted that the university is hosting this exhibition.
"Gerard is not only one of Scotland’s most celebrated artists, he is a true friend of our university, and I know that our staff and students, as well as members of the local community, will enjoy the chance to visit this outstanding collection of some of his finest works.”
Burns said: “I have chosen portraits that I feel celebrate leadership, vision and mastery from across politics, finance and the arts, which I hope will provide inspiration for future graduates and I am thrilled and honoured to be chosen as the first artist to exhibit in GCU's new, beautifully designed, transformation centrepiece.”
In 2015, Gerard M Burns’ exhibition capturing prominent Scots including actors Alan Cumming and Ewan McGregor, broadcaster Kirsty Wark and Helena Kennedy QC, Brush with Inspiration, was hosted by GCU New York.
His latest exhibition, which will be open to the public from March 24 to April 14, will be held in a new pavilion in the Glasgow campus’ Hamish Wood building, a Page/Park designed centrepiece of the £32m Heart of the Campus project, which has transformed GCU’s city-centre site.
Glasgow-born Burns is recognised as one of Scotland’s leading artists of the human condition and as well as portraiture, his work explores contemporary interpretations of traditional themes.
The exhibition will be open from 9am to 7pm Mondays to Fridays and from 9am to 3pm at the weekends. A launch event for staff, students and other invited guests will be held on March 23.
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