Seven Women: Ken Currie

In 2023 the University Art Collection was delighted to be gifted seven works by renowned artist Ken Currie and we are pleased to display Seven Women together in this exhibition. 

Seven Women were part of a wider body of work Chunnacas na mairbh beò (The Dead Have Been Seen Alive) exhibited at Glasgow Print Studio in 2022. The title of the exhibition was taken from Sorley MacLean's 'Hallaig', a poetic response to the Clearances on the Isle of Raasay.  

Inspired by and propelled by the printmaking techniques which Currie studied and began to master in 2015, these works are broadly influenced by the study of Egyptian Funerary portraits from AD 40-250.  Frozen in time like photographs, these ancient and remarkable images are unique, extraordinarily beautiful artefacts which have, for many years, fascinated and haunted Currie. 

This exhibit will include a written response to Seven Women by author and Lecturer in Creative Writing at Stirling, Kevin MacNeil.

Ken Currie studied at the Glasgow School of Art from 1978-1983 and rose to attention within a generation of painters known as the "New Glasgow Boys" in the 1980s.  He is known for his unsettling portrayal of the human figure, often created as a response to brutality and suffering in contemporary society.

About Human Experience

Each academic year, all of the Art Collection’s exhibitions, events and workshops are directly inspired by one of the University research themes.  In 2024-25 our chosen focus Human Experience will examine topics such as displacement, climate change, social deprivation and covid-19, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit and our ability to continue to create art through and about troubling times.

For details of outreach events being run alongside this theme and further information look on our what’s on page.

The Pathfoot Gallery is free to visit and open to all. See our further information about access and getting here.