Glasgow Art Club is a club for artists and lay members with an interest in the arts, that has become over the generations "a meeting place for artists, business leaders and academics".The Herald Scotland article 29 December 2009
Retrieved 2011-08-17 Each year it has a range of exhibitions open to the public for their enjoyment; and, subject to club events, a number of its rooms are available as venues for social occasions.

History and premises

The Glasgow Art Club 17 - ground floor dining space

One of Glasgow's, and Scotland's, most creative institutions Glasgow Art Club was founded in 1867. Membership is open to ladies, gentlemen, students and corporate organisations. The club premises include function rooms, studios, library, dining room and Gallery. Extensive exhibitions and events are programmed each year. It is based in Bath Street close to

Blythswood Square Blythswood Square is the Georgian square on Blythswood Hill in the heart of the City of Glasgow, Scotland. The square is part of the 'Magnificent New Town of Blythswood' built in the 1800s on the rising empty ground west of a very new Buchana ...

, the area having been developed in the early 19th century by

William Harley William Harley (1767–1829) was a Scottish textile manufacturer and entrepreneur who is known for his early contributions to the city of Glasgow, including the development of the New Town of Blythswood, covering Blythswood Hill, and pioneering ...

. Following initial discussions by artists William Dennistoun, David Murray and friends at a tea room above a baker's shop in

Candleriggs Candleriggs is a street in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is located in the Merchant City area of the city centre. Candleriggs was historically the area of the old city of Glasgow where candlemakers plied their trade, at a safe distance fr ...

, Glasgow, on the proposal to form a club, the first formal meetings of the club were held at the Waverley Temperance Hotel, on

Buchanan Street Buchanan Street is one of the main shopping thoroughfares in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. It forms the central stretch of Glasgow's famous shopping district with a generally more upmarket range of shops than the neighbouring streets: ...

, Glasgow, with Dennistoun elected the club's first president.Glasgow Herald article 6 June 1893 ''Glasgow Art Club''
Retrieved 2011-08-17 Membership was to grow during the 1870s, with more artists joining and exhibitions being held and in 1875 the club moved to another hotel called the Waverley, this time one on the city's

Sauchiehall Street Sauchiehall Street () is one of the main shopping streets in the Glasgow city centre, city centre of Glasgow, Scotland, along with Buchanan Street and Argyle Street, Glasgow, Argyle Street. Although commonly associated with the city centre, Sau ...

. From there the club was to relocate to the Royal Hotel on the city's

George Square George Square ( gd, Ceàrnag Sheòrais) is the principal civic square in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is one of six squares in the city centre, the others being Cathedral Square, St Andrew's Square, St Enoch Square, Royal Exchange Sq ...

, renting rooms for six months at a time, where life and sketching classes were held. Membership of the club began to be extended beyond painters (in 1881 the pioneering photographer

James Craig Annan James Craig Annan (8 March 1864 – 5 June 1946) was a pioneering Scottish-born photographer and Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society. Early life and education The second son of photographer Thomas Annan, James Craig Annan was bo ...

was admitted as a ‘'photographic artist'’ and in 1903 John M. Crawford (another former pupil of

Hamilton Academy Hamilton Academy was a school in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The school was described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, and was featured in a 1950 Scottish Seconda ...

), Fellow of the

Royal Institute of British Architects The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three suppl ...

, became the first architect to be elected President of Glasgow Art Club.)University of Strathclyde – ''Who’s Who in Glasgow 1909''
Retrieved 2011-08-17 '' In 1878 the club moved to rented premises at 62 Bothwell Street and the need to raise funds led to a change in the club’s constitution and the admission in 1886 of male lay members with an interest in the arts (admission of women not extended until 1982. ) With membership burgeoning new premises were rented at 151 Bath Street, on

Blythswood Hill Blythswood Hill, crowned by the elegance of Blythswood Square, is the wealthiest part of central Glasgow, Scotland. It extends from the west edge of Buchanan Street to Gordon Street and Bothwell Street, Charing Cross, Sauchiehall Street a ...

originally developed by

. These formally opened on 12 November 1886 but soon afterwards two adjacent town houses at 185 Bath Street were purchased, these converted by the architect

John Keppie John Keppie (4 August 1862 – 28 April 1945) was a Glasgow architect and artist. From an early age he was a close friend of Edward Atkinson Hornel and would often bring in New Year with him in Kirkcudbright. Within the architectural professi ...

, a member of the club, creating also an exhibition gallery in what were the back gardens of the houses. It has recently been confirmed that the young

Charles Rennie Mackintosh Charles Rennie Mackintosh (7 June 1868 – 10 December 1928) was a Scottish architect, designer, water colourist and artist. His artistic approach had much in common with European Symbolism. His work, alongside that of his wife Margaret Macdo ...

was involved in the decorative details of the renovations and created a mural. The club’s new premises were formally opened on 14 June 1893.Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain & Ireland 1851-1951
Retrieved 2011-08-17 The club embarked in 2011 on a major programme of renovation of its historic category A

Listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

on Bath Street, Glasgow.,The Herald Scotland article 5 March 2011 ''Bankers in the frame to help out historic art institution''
Retrieved 2011-08-17 including the restoration of the Gallery frieze designed by

, who assisted

and

John Honeyman John Honeyman (1729August 18, 1822) was an American spy and British informant for George Washington, primarily responsible for spreading disinformation and gathering the intelligence crucial to Washington's victory in the Battle of Trenton. ...

in the design of the Gallery saloon. The club first admitted women as members in 1984, and elected its first female president, Efric McNeil, in 2015. In 2021 the

Friends of Glasgow Museums ''Friends'' is an American television sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa ...

moved their base to the Club, to continue its charitable activities in supporting art galleries and museums in Glasgow. In 2022 Westbourne Music moved their base for lunchtime mid-week concerts to the Club.

Exhibitions and notable exhibitors

The Glasgow Art Club 02 - gallery space on ground floor

The club’s stature in Glasgow was confirmed when on the occasion of the official opening by the Prince of Wales of the Glasgow International Exhibition of Science, Art and Industry in 1888, the Lord Provost of Glasgow presented the Prince and Princess of Wales with an album of paintings by members of the Glasgow Art Club. In the succeeding years the club has played host to many events, including, on the evening of 28 October 1932 a dinner honouring Dr. Pittendrigh Macgillivray RSA, King’s

Sculptor in Ordinary for Scotland The Sculptor in Ordinary for Scotland is a member of the Royal household in Scotland. The first appointment was made by Queen Victoria around 1838, although it was not listed as a member of the Royal household until the 1870s. The office was made ...

a member of the Club for some fifty years, and club member James B. Anderson ARSA. Initially the Club’s exhibitions were open only to members, in later years admission extended also to the general public. In 2008 Glasgow Art Club exhibited the jewelled panel ''The White Rose and The Red Rose'' by

Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh (5 November 1864 – 7 January 1933) was an English-born artist who worked in Scotland, and whose design work became one of the defining features of the Glasgow Style during the 1890s - 1900s. Biography Born Marga ...

, wife of

, before its sale for £1.7 million at

Christie's Christie's is a British auction house founded in 1766 by James Christie (auctioneer), James Christie. Its main premises are on King Street, St James's in London, at Rockefeller Center in New York City and at Alexandra House in Hong Kong. It is ...

on 30 April 2008. Since 2010 the club has opened its exhibition spaces and collections to the public on a regular basis (i.e. not just when specific exhibitions are being held.) Many notable member artists have exhibited at the club's exhibitions, including: The club's Winter exhibition of 1909 included works by: Sir James Guthrie, E A Hornel,

Muirhead Bone Sir Muirhead Bone (23 March 1876 – 21 October 1953) was a Scottish etcher and watercolourist who became known for his depiction of industrial and architectural subjects and his work as a war artist in both the First and Second World Wars. A ...

(Britain's first official War Artist, knighted 1937First World War pictures, biography Sir Muirhead Bone
Retrieved 2011-08-17) Sir David Murray RA The club's Spring exhibition of 1923 included works by: E A Hornel, Sir David Murray RA, James Kay The club's Memorial Exhibition of 1935 included works by: E A Walton, Sir James Guthrie, W Y Macgregor, James Paterson, Maurice William Greiffenhagen,

Leslie Hunter George Leslie Hunter (7 August 1877 – 7 December 1931) was a Scottish painter, regarded as one of the four artists of the Scottish Colourists group of painters. Christened simply George Hunter, he adopted the name Leslie in San Francisco, a ...

, Stuart Park, E A Hornel The club's exhibition April 1939 included works by:

Sir John Lavery Sir John Lavery (20 March 1856 – 10 January 1941) was a Northern Irish painter best known for his portraits and wartime depictions. Life and career John Lavery was born in inner North Belfast, baptised at St Patrick's Church, Belfast a ...

(exhibiting his ''The Lake at Ranelagh'',) and J W Ferguson, who submitted a portrait Club exhibitions and some touring exhibitions are staged each year.

Notable members

Notable members include: * James B. Anderson ARSA *

* Muriel Barclay * George Telfer BearGlasgow Herald article 4 January 1943 ''Glasgow Art Club Exhibition''
Retrieved 2011-08-17 * Sir

Alexander Kellock Brown Alexander Kellock Brown (11 February 1849 – 9 May 1922) was a Scottish painter of landscapes and brother of the sculptor William Kellock Brown. He painted in oils and water-colors and exhibited frequently at the Royal Scottish Academy exhibits ...

* Emilio Coia * William Crosbie * John Cunningham * Peter Wylie Davidson * George Devlin * David Donaldson RSA RGI RP LLD DLit Painter and Limner to Her Majesty The Queen in Scotland *

Robert Eadie Robert Eadie R.S.W. (1877–1954) was an elegant portraitist, book illustrator and painter of landscapes, beach and street scenes in oils and water-colours. He was also an engraver, and artist in black and white. Born in Glasgow in 1877 he served ...

* Norman Edgar * J W FergusonGlasgow Herald article 1 April 1939 ''Glasgow Art Club Annual Exhibition''
Retrieved 2011-09-04 *

Alexander Goudie Alexander Goudie (11 November 1933 – 9 March 2004) was a Scottish figurative painter. Education and Training Alexander Goudie was born in the Renfrewshire town of Paisley, Scotland, in 1933. He studied at the Glasgow School of Art under Willi ...

* Robert Greenlees * Maurice William GreiffenhagenGlasgow Herald article 9 April 1935 ''Glasgow Art Club – Memorial Exhibition Opened''
Retrieved 2011-09-04 * Sir James Guthrie * Ernest B Hood * Norman Kirkham * Sir David Murray RAGlasgow Herald article 4 December 1909 ''The Glasgow Art Club – Interesting Exhibition''
Retrieved 2011-09-04 * Dr

Tom Honeyman Thomas John Honeyman (10 June 1891 – 5 July 1971) was an art dealer and gallery director, becoming the most acclaimed director of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow. Born near Queen's Park, Glasgow, the son of a life insurance m ...

* E A Hornel *

* James Kay * Robert Kelsey *

* Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden * John McGhie * Archibald A McGlashan * Neil MacPhail * Allan D Mainds ARSAThe Herald article 21 March 1929 ''New ARSAs''
Retrieved 2011-08-17 * Sir David Murray RA * Stuart Park * A N Paterson * James Paterson * Sir Francis Powell * Alexander Proudfoot *

Benno Schotz Benno Schotz (28 August 1891 Arensburg, Livonia, Russian Empire – 11 October 1984 Glasgow, Scotland) was an Estonian-born Scottish sculptor, and one of twentieth century Scotland's leading artists. Biography Early life Schotz was the y ...

, Sculptor in Ordinary for Scotland * Connie Simmers *

George Singleton George Singleton is a Southern author who has written eight collections of short stories, two novels, and an instructional book on writing fiction. He was born in Anaheim, California and raised in Greenwood, South Carolina. Singleton graduated ...

William Somerville Shanks William Somerville Shanks ARSA, RSA, RSW (28 September 1864 – 28 July 1951) was a Scottish artist who was a tutor in painting and drawing at the Glasgow School of Art for 29 years. His painting ''Tiddley Winks'' sold for £181,250 at Sot ...

* Archibald Macfarlane Shannan * A P Thomson * Murray Macpherson Tod * E A Walton

References

Additional sources

*''Glasgow Art Club 1867 -1967, the First Hundred Years'' Glasgow Art Club 1967 *''The Year’s Art 1890: A Concise Epitome of all Matters Relating to the Arts of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture which have occurred during the year 1889, together with information respecting the events of the year 1890'' page 158 {{Authority control Arts organizations established in 1867 Category A listed buildings in Glasgow 1867 establishments in Scotland