City Centre Contemporary Art Trail
City Centre Contemporary Art Trail
Glasgow's contemporary art scene shows Glasgow at its edgy and energetic finest, with some of the city's best pieces of art found in the city's streets. Check out this walkable trail of 14 public artworks, designed by Scottish and global artists.
Homeless Jesus
Credit: Image courtesy of the artist. Photo: Eimear Coyle.
The Homeless Jesus life-sized sculpture was created by Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz to help shine a light on the worldwide homeless epidemic. Schmalz's original Homeless Jesus can be found at the University of Toronto, with 100 copies of his work in place in global locations, including in the heart of Glasgow.
Tympanum
One of the most colourful representations of the city's crest (the bird, the tree, the bell, the fish) is on the front of the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA). Inspired by the city's patron saint, St Mungo and his story, the mirror mosaic was designed by Niki de Saint Phalle.
COME WHAT MAY
Credit: Image courtesy of the artist. Photo: Eimear Coyle.
When at GoMA also look down so as not to miss the wise words on the stone steps by artist Lawrence Weiner. The New York artist, who is credited as one of the pioneers of conceptual art, hoped the words would spark conversation about public art and how it's used.
Chookie Burdies
Credit: Image courtesy of the artist. Photo: Eimear Coyle.
See how many birdies you can spot atop of lampposts (there are 300 in total) whilst walking in the Garnethill area of the city. Each bird has been positioned uniquely by Glaswegian artist Shona Kinloch.
MhtPothta / Maternity and The Clyde Clock
Credit: Image courtesy of the artist and the George Wyllie Foundation. Photo: Eimear Coyle.
Credit: Image courtesy of the artist and the George Wyllie Foundation. Photo: Eimear Coyle.
A playful sculpture by the humourous artist George Wyllie can be found at Rottenrow Gardens at the University of Strathclyde on the former site of a maternity unit where many Glaswegians entered the world.
George Wyllie's The Clyde Clock is a play on the phrase, 'time flies'. It is positioned at Buchanan Bus Station, where many people will have run past it, late for a bus home!
Untitled
Credit: Untitled, (2014), Jim Lambie. Courtesy of the artist and The Modern Institute / Toby Webster Ltd., Glasgow. Photo: Stephen Hosey.
Commissioned as part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme, Untitled is an album pathway created by Glaswegian Turner Prize nominee, Jim Lambie. Each line features the name and date of an act that performed at the city's legendary Barrowland Ballroom, giving the impression of browsing someone's record collection.
Slow Down
Credit: Slow Down, (2014), Jacqueline Donachie. Courtesy of The Artist and Patricia Fleming, Glasgow. Photo: Eimear Coyle.
Slow Down is a permanent piece of artwork found on London Road in the city's east end which remembers the mass cycling performance that took place as part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme. The performance in 2014 saw colourful lines appear all over the city as 100 cyclists set off each with a chalk dispenser attached to their bike.
Built by Immigrants
The Turner Prize winning artist Jeremy Deller has exhibited in Glasgow previously with his art installation, Sacrilege in 2012 - an inflatable, life-sized replica of Stonehenge. He returned to the city in 2019 to install Built by Immigrants in Aird's Lane. Designed in the style of a traditional British road sign, this piece of art makes a political statement.
The Cherub and Skull
Credit: Image courtesy of the artist. Photo: Eimear Coyle.
Credit: Image courtesy of the artist. Photo: Eimear Coyle.
The Cherub and Skull were created by Scottish artist Kenny Hunter, who has exhibited worldwide. Hunter also created the city's Citizen Firefighter, located outside Grand Central Hotel.
This is a 2-part sculpture, with one found at the front of the Tron Theatre and one at the back. They represent life and death, as well as the building's life as a church and theatre.
Bridge Columns
Credit: Image courtesy of the artist. Photo: Eimear Coyle.
Scottish artist, Ian Hamilton Finlay created the Bridge Columns out of the remains of the demolished Caledonian Bridge. The two pillars have the phrase ‘All greatness stands firm in the storm' carved onto them.
Empire
Turner Prize winning artist, Douglas Gordon has taken the idea of the Empire sign from the Empire Hotel sign in Hitchcock's Vertigo. Here the word Empire is reversed and legible in the surrounding stainless steel panels. The piece plays with the idea of reality and is deliberately located in the Merchant City to reflect the relationship between the area's wealth and the British Empire. The sign has recently been relocated to a new location at New Wynd.
Glasgow Bouquet
Credit: Image courtesy of the artist. Photo: Eimear Coyle.
Scottish artist Doug Cocker created the Glasgow Bouquet to represent the importance of merchants and craftsmen to the city of Glasgow. Here the tools are placed in a basket, much like flowers in a vase, with the 10 tools symbolising different trades or roles.
Topographical Relief Map
Credit: Image courtesy of the artist. Photo: Eimear Coyle.
Scottish sculptor Kathleen Chambers created a 3D bronze map of Glasgow with people encouraged to touch and explore the city with their hands. Topographical Relief Map was designed specifically with a visually impaired audience in mind, with braille used for street names. The piece was commissioned to celebrate the city’s status as the European City of Culture in 1990.
Article last updated: August 2022
