Curator’s Tour - Collecting the Contemporary, Kirkcaldy Galleries

Curator’s Tour - Collecting the Contemporary

Kirkcaldy Galleries

Saturday 15 March, 11.30am

Today, Kirkcaldy Galleries is renowned for its collection of works by S J Peploe and William McTaggart - much-loved and undisputed titans of Scottish art history.

In the early 20th century, however, the Galleries (then Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery) were known as the 'Tate of the North' - a vital centre for sharing new, exciting and controversial works of art. The exhibition Collecting the Contemporary traces this hundred-year legacy to the present-day, and shine a spotlight on a selection of modern and contemporary art added to the collection in recent years.

The display focuses on four works of art – The Family by John Bellany, National Stadium by Ken Currie, Intense White by Callum Innes and Figures in a Classroom by Alison Watt – all of which were donated through the Cultural Gifts Scheme to OnFife’s collections in 2023. Each illustrates a different aspect of Scottish art and a different approach to the craft of painting.

In this special guided tour, Collections Curator Lily Barnes will talk about each piece, how they interact with each other, and speak to the larger collection of works on display at Kirkcaldy Galleries. (Plus – there are still plenty of Peploes on display for those craving Colourists!).

Image: Detail from Figures in a Classroom by Alison Watt (copyright the artist)

Host or Publisher Scottish Society for Art History