William Gillies: Modernism and Nation

This year marks 125 years since the birth of one of Scotland’s best-known artists, Sir William Gillies RA RSA (1898-1973). This introductory exhibition and its associated publication seek to give wider recognition to Gillies, his practice and his life, within the story of British Modernism.

Born in Haddington, Gillies served in the First World War and taught and inspired generations of Scottish artists at Edinburgh College of Art. The face of Scottish painting today would certainly be different without his influence.

Upon his death, in 1973, Gillies bequeathed his entire estate to the Royal Scottish Academy. It contains hundreds of paintings, drawings and some of his materials, objects, archives and library. Since then, the RSA has furthered Gillies’ legacy through research, publishing, and exhibitions, presenting his life and art to wider audiences. In 1998, the RSA Gillies’ centenary exhibition and publication included the greatest number of his Modernist works assembled and positioned Gillies as a major twentieth-century British painter.

Within this new interpretation he is recognised as a uniquely modern artist of his time, not only in his native Scotland, but in a wider British context. It explores the political and cultural position of art in Scotland during Gillies’ life and the existential crises which beset his first 50 years. This includes his war service, family traumas and the regular deaths of those close to him. Modernist ideas and approaches helped Gillies find a painterly path through the wonders and extremes of human existence.

There is undoubtedly a special place in twentieth-century Modernism for William Gillies, and this exhibition hopefully inspires you to discover more of his extraordinary story.

William Gillies: Modernism and Nation is part of a larger touring project, which can be seen throughout Scotland in 2024 and 2025.

The tour will visit Rozelle House, Ayr; Hawick Museum; Pier Arts Centre, Orkney; Perth Art Gallery; Taigh Chearsabhagh, North Uist; Inverness Art Gallery; Kirkcudbright Galleries and Gracefield Arts Centre, from March 2024 until late 2025. A companion exhibition is also currently on view at the John Gray Centre in Haddington until 26 April 2024.