The Glasgow School of Art

Art School, Practice and Society, for La Biennale di Venezia

Professor Penny Macbeth, Professor Omar Kholeif and Jenny Brownrigg in conversation. Art Schools are places where knowledge is not simply tought, but passed on, transformed and reimagined.  This short podcast special for the La Biennale di Venezia unfolds across four conversations – moving from personal practice to global questions – tracing how art schools operate as sites and agents of making, thinking and social change  Developed by The Glasgow School of Art for Scotland + Venice at La Biennale de Venezia, this special brings together three voices to reflect on: research, creative practice and making; journeys into art school; the gallery as an experimental space; the role of art education in society and why a creative education matters now.  Professor Penny Macbeth, Director and Principal of The Glasgow School of Art is a designer and educator, whose practice spans textiles, drawing, and material thinking. Her work explores making as a form of knowledge and the role of creative education in shaping future practice.   Omar Kholeif is a professor of Global Art Theory and Practice, as well as a writer curator and cultural historian. Born in Cairo and raised internationally, Kholeif has authored over twenty books and curatord more than one hundred exhibitions.  Finally, Jenny Brownrigg is a curator with over two decades of experince in university galleries, and leads exhibitions across the GSA supporting research, students and international artistic dialogue.  Episode notes: Find out more about GSA Exhibitions at https://gsaexhibitions.co.uk/  Mother Curator [https://gsaexhibitions.co.uk/exhibition/mother-curator/] was curated by Year 4 Fine Art GSA student Emma Scarlett. The Glasgow School of Art Podcast is hosted by Skye Butchard The Glasgow School of Art Podcast theme was composed by Dino Bardot   https://www.gsa.ac.uk/

Undertaking a practice-led PhD in Fine Art, with Michael Collazo and Laura Guy

In this episode of the GSA Podcast, PhD researcher Michael Collazzo discusses undertaking a practice-led PhD, and what it has afforded him as an artist.  Michael's PhD project centres on the completion of a three-year-long ballpoint pen drawing. Huge in scale and impressive for its intricacy, the drawing is just as important for its process as it is for the end work. In his research, grief is the drawing tool, and his project researches queer grief through the medium of drawing. Michael is joined by Laura Guy, Reader in Gender, Sexuality and Culture at the Glasgow School of Art, who provides insight into what makes for a successful portfolio, and the specific goals and challenges of completing a PhD within Fine Art.  See Michael's work at @ballpointpenwizard [https://www.instagram.com/ballpointpenwizard/] on Instagram Laura Guy is featured in Challenging Institutionalisation [https://www.google.com/search?q=challenging+institutionalisation&rlz=1C5GCEM_enGB1152GB1152&oq=challenging+institutionalisation&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRifBTIHCAMQIRifBTIHCAQQIRifBTIHCAUQIRifBTIHCAYQIRifBTIHCAcQIRifBTIHCAgQIRifBTIHCAkQIRifBdIBCTE2NDI2ajBqNKgCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8], published by Sternberg Press.  Learn more about PhD research programmes at The Glasgow School of Art: https://www.gsa.ac.uk/study-at-the-gsa/postgraduate-research https://www.gsa.ac.uk/

Silversmithing and Jewellery Christmas Sale 2025

In this bitesize episode, we celebrate the start of the festive period with the Silversmithing and Jewellery Christmas Sale, as well as the upcoming Year 4 work-in-progress show. Undergraduate programme leader Anna Gordon is joined by Year 4 student Liatris Bian and Year 3 student Yasaman Basmanesh, who discuss their work and what they hope to get out of the sale.   The S&J Christmas Sale takes place from Monday 1st until Tuesday the 9th of December in the Garnethill gallery of the Reid Building, and features over 60 bespoke pieces, made to measure by students, staff and artists in residence at The Glasgow School of Art.  Proceeds from the sale go towards fundraising for the Silversmithing and jewellery Year 3 academic trip to Munich.  It coincides with the Year 4 Silversmithing & Jewellery work in progress show in the Garnethill Gallery. The show will run until Thursday 11 December; 'a rinse, a spin, a transformation' is the show's theme. https://www.gsa.ac.uk/

Ian Hamilton Finlay - War and Pieces of a Garden

The GSA is marking the centenary of Scottish artist Ian Hamilton Finlay withWar and Pieces of a Garden, an exhibition in the Reid Building which explores key moments in Finlay's life and work, and what makes his art resonate in the present day.  Photographer Robin Gillanders is joined by GSA Exhibitions and Cultural Development Coordinator John Farrell and GSA Library and Collections Manager Duncan Chappell discuss their experiences with and perspectives on Ian Hamilton Finlay, as well as explaining what goes into putting an exhibition like this together.  Visit www.gsaexhibitions.co.uk for more information on the exhibition, open Friday 31 October 2025 – Saturday 22 November 2025 in the Garnethill Gallery of the Reid Building The GSA Podcast theme is composed by Dino Bardot. Photo: ‘Ian Hamilton Finlay, Little Sparta‘ Silver Gelatin Print (2004) © Robin Gillanders, courtesy of the artist https://www.gsa.ac.uk/

The Story of The Centre for Advanced Textiles

In this episode, we speak to the team behind The Centre for Advanced Textiles about its ground-breaking journey and lasting impact on the textile industry. We're also joined by multi-disciplinary artist Fraser Taylor, who speaks about exhibiting Instant Whip at the GSA, nearly fifty years after he first started his studies here.  You can see the exhibition CATALOGUE: 25 years of the Centre for Advanced Textiles from 12th September – 18th October 2025. Visit www.gsaexhibitions.co.uk to find out more. The headline sponsor for this exhibition is Skypark with additional support from the Incorporation of Bonnetmakers and Dyers of Glasgow. Episode Notes: The guests on this podcast are Alan Shaw, Laura Boomer, Vicky Begg and Fraser Taylor. Music for The Glasgow School of Art podcast was composed by Dino Bardot. https://www.gsa.ac.uk/