Show Notes
Karen talks to art historian and curator, Alice Strang. Alice was the curator behind the Modern Scottish Women: Painters & Sculptors 185-1965 exhibition which was held at the National Galleries of Scotland from the 7th of November 2015 to the 26 Jun 2016.
In 1885 Sir William Fettes Douglas, President of the Royal Scottish Academy, declared that the work of a woman artist was ‘like a man’s only weaker and poorer.’ In the same year, Fra Newbery was appointed Director of the Glasgow School of Art and did much in terms of gender equality amongst his staff and pupils. Between then and the death in 1965 of Anne Redpath, the doyenne of post-World War Two Scottish painting, an unprecedented number of Scottish women trained and practised as artists; the exhibition focused on paintings and sculptures made by forty-five of them.
In this episode, Karen and Alice talk about a range of topics associated with women featured in the exhibition including the impact of the Marriage Bar, Jessie M. King and Greengate Close and how the curatorial team selected the artists and works for the exhibition. Modern Scottish Women was accompanied by a lavishly-illustrated book based on new research which has recently been reprinted and is the National Galleries of Scotland book of the month for July 2026. To purchase a copy please click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Round the Studios
On this episode, Karen talks to Dr Cat Dunn. Cat is an amazing curator who has put on several shows which use contemporary artists to explore the themes of migration, identity, memory and Blackness in relation to the landscape and built environment. She has worked in collaboration with Historic Environment Scotland, The University of Edinburgh and Glasgow Sculpture Studios.
Karen talks to the wonderful Nicola Glencross. Glencross, also known as Nikki Storm, is a professional wrestler and historian working on capturing women wrestler's stories. The project explores American women’s sports history and popular culture, and utilises oral history testimony.
In this episode, Karen explores radical Glasgow with Historian and Tour Guide Katherine MacKinnon. Bonding over their love of the Vicky Road Oxfam Book shop, they talk about some of the key figures in the city's radical history including Agnes and Patrick Dollan, John S. Clarke and John McLean. We also chat about the changing skyline of the city, lion taming, the mural trail and how there are actually more notable Glaswegians than just Billy Connelly!
Want to find out who 'Stanny' is? If so, listen to Karen talk to independent art advisor James McNaught talk about the Glasgow Girls, exhibitions and the art market. They talk about their favourite 'Glasgow Girl', a term which was bestowed on a group of artists and designers who were working and producing in Glasgow from around 1880.Jessie M.King, Norah Neilson Gray and De Courcy Lewthwaite Dewar all get a mention.
Welcome back to Season 2 of 'Round the Studios: Scottish History from a different perspective'. In episode 1, Karen talks to her lifelong friend (they have known each other since they were 4 years old) the ceramicist and all round legend, Dr Maria Di Mario.*