The Art of Willie Rodger exhibition

This exhibition explores the inspiration provided to a wide variety of people by the artist Willie Rodger. Willie Rodger RSA (1930-2018) was one of Scotland’s pre-eminent printmakers. Having been inspired by his art teacher at High School, Rodger attended Glasgow School of Art from 1948-52 and went on to become an established relief printmaker, working mostly in lino and wood. He was the first person to be elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in the category of Printmaker. Rodger’s work combines skill, humour, and a keen observation of the world around him. The works shown in this exhibition were generously donated to the Collection by the Willie Rodger Trust in 2023.

Not only did Rodger’s body of work inspire other creatives such as Liz Lochhead, whose poetry has been included in the exhibition, but his work as a teacher at Clydebank High School inspired countless students, many of whom went on to have careers in the arts. 

‘One of the very few teachers who never lost faith in me, Willie single-handedly took this scruffy, cheeky kid from a blinkered, depressed environment and inspired him to reach for the stars. I owe Willie more than a lot. I owe him everything’.

- Mitch Davidson, Art Director

Each academic year, all of the Art Collection’s exhibitions, events and workshops are directly inspired by one of the University research themes.  In 2023-24 our chosen focus is Inspired! in which we celebrate how the beautiful University of Stirling campus and our collections have inspired creativity in many ways.