Al Gow

Preparing work for an exhibition with the wonderful Katherine @oliverprojectslondon Impossible to make without @glasgowprintstudio Trongate 103 is still in a difficult situation. Information and petition here: /p/save-trongate103-from-closure

One year since day! What a long hot day that was! Edith, Lydia, Naomi, Kris and Ieva were such troopers! It was a full, stressful, intense, beautiful day. Yes, we did a private open top bus tour! Yes, we did a bag of merch! There were drinks, snacks, photo ops, speeches, hugs and tears a plenty. We had cocktails and snacks at the glorious Chez Eugene. We danced to the incredible Hot 8, who played our favourite songs just for us. Including the, serendipitous, New Orleans After the City {5 0 4 - sing it!}. The perfect way to always remember our anniversary date. We had more cocktails at Chez Camille. Gow told strangers in the street he loved them! Edith wants to live in Paris. We all want to live in Paris. A beautiful time, in a beautiful place, with beautiful people. ❤️

Glasgow’s Trongate 103 is in imminent danger. This cultural hub, which was set up to provide space for artists to flourish, has been hit by the greedy gaze of Glasgow City Council. The building is and has been home to hundreds (if not thousands) of artists whose impact has rippled across the world. The hope that Glasgow City of Culture had provided them with, only to be taken away (earlier than agreed) at a time when AI (not@al_gow ) is being given all the fun jobs but doing them badly, is devastating to the art world. Glasgow has lost so much in recent years that it seems remiss for them to be doubling down on this mistake. Trongate 103 is open to all. There are regular free events open to anyone, classes available for various budgets, private studios for people to make work, as well as Streetlevel, Transmission, GMac, Project Ability, and, of course, Glasgow Print Studio, where members can make work in safe and supportive environments. Glasgow Print Studio is the reason we even live in Glasgow. A home from home. A place where everyone knows and supports each other. Please sign the petition. Please email or write to the MSPs on the City Properties board. Please attend the protests. Please tell everyone how important art is. Art and artists impact every single part of our lives, from the beds we sleep in to the clothes we wear, the phones we use, and the music we listen to on them. Nothing human-made you touch would exist without an artist somewhere. #glasgowcityofculture #savetrongate103 #savethearts

‘What made you stop here?’ an etching commissioned by @hepworthwakefield and made and editioned at @glasgowprintstudio in 2023. This wonderful organisation is imminently under threat of closure as part of @trongate103 along with the other arts organisations in the building: @glasgowindependentstudio @projectability @gmacfilm @transmissionglasgow @streetlevelphotoworks @sharmanka.theatre @glasgowprojectroom . Me and @lorna_robertson_ are lined up to have an exhibition at the print studio in June as part of the @gifestival . We both had studios for ten years in Glasgow Independent studios. This building has played a huge part in our lives and careers, along with hundreds of fellow artists. If Trongate 103 is closed it will be a disaster for visual art in Glasgow. Please sign the petition in my bio and stop this short sighted reckless decision. #trongate103 ; second image - a recent etching by Lorna Robertson made at Glasgow print studio with master printmaker @al_gow

We spoke to James Murphy, Commercial Director at Glasgow Print Studio, about Alistair Gow’s piece ‘Turn Around’, advice for first-time buyers, and the importance of making contemporary art and craft affordable. Visit Glasgow Print Studio at Stand 15, London Art Fair, this weekend to discover outstanding printmaking! See something you love? Spread the cost over 10 months, completely interest-free, with Own Art. Glasgow Print Studio are a non-profit, artist-led initiative offering facilities and workshop space for artists working in fine art printmaking. Their engaging exhibitions allow visitors to explore the styles and techniques of both local and international artists, with the opportunity to purchase the very best in contemporary Scottish printmaking. ❤️ @al_gow @glasgowprintstudio

Another little painting and an etching that were on show with @dianedawson.studio @rachel.mimiec and @alasdair.wallace during our show @newglasgowsociety , SPLINT. Kite Acrylic and oil on board 20.5x17.5cm Flag Etching Edition of 20 29x24cm paper A kite given by a friend, flown by my daughter on a bright day. A white flag in front of a particular sky.

Two paintings from the exhibition SPLINT @newglasgowsociety with @dianedawson.studio @rachel.mimiec and @alasdair.wallace Ships in the night Acrylic and oil on board 21x17.5cm framed Mind Acrylic and oil on board 21x17.5cm framed Two trees that always glow when I pass on the way home late from the studio. The Botanical Gardens in a particular light that lets me remember a friend. Diane and I have had multiple exhibitions at the New Glasgow Society, which is such a great space. Each time I’ve shown there with Diane, the work made in an experimental energy has pushed my work forward. Sharing the space with Rachel and Alasdair brought even more opportunity to do this and I’m very grateful for the chance to show with these three artists.

Splint An exhibition of new work with @dianedawson.studio @rachel.mimiec @alasdair.wallace and myself Open from Friday 5th - Sunday 7th December 11am-5pm with a preview on the Friday 6-8pm @newglasgowsociety 1307 Argyle Street Glasgow G3 8TL @dianedawson.studio and I have had 4 exhibitions @newglasgowsociety over the last few years and each one has started new things in the work, allowing and pushing experimentation. It’s exciting to share the space with Rachel and Alasdair - it’s sure to be worth a visit! I will be painting… mostly… in the middle of the night… Yes!

This was the last work made for @oliverprojectslondon for their booth @woolwichcontemporaryprintfair Another tree from Queens Park in Glasgow. It is one of those prints that if I hadn’t had a deadline I would likely still be tinkering with to get the colour just right - I hoped to make a blue grey in the sky that could read as bleached out blue sky or bright flat cloud. A colour that sits easily in my mind but not so easy to mix. The title comes from a Bill Callahan song, Too Many Birds. Turns Around in Hopes to Find 2025 Etching Edition of 10 118x91cm paper, 100x75cm plate Thanks again to Katherine @oliverprojectslondon for the opportunity to show with her. Thank you to Isobel @rabbetglasgow for making such beautiful frames to support the work Thank you to @alasdair.wallace for the photography My work wouldn’t be possible without @glasgowprintstudio and all the support there. Lots of great folk around, in the fair and back home. Yes!

Showing with @oliverprojectslondon @woolwichcontemporaryprintfair Palace of Art 2025 Etching Edition of 20 32x35cm paper, 21x23cm plate This smaller elephant etching came before the large monotype. Most often with the things that become the subjects of my work, I see them regularly enough to become interested. Then I make lots of different versions, in different media. In this way relationships are built between the subject, me and hopefully a viewer. Framed for the fair expertly by Isobel @rabbetglasgow