Escape the winter blues via the latest free exhibition at the Lillie Art Gallery in Milngavie – 'Joseph Urie: Pursuing Mystery, Drama and Beauty'.
Works by the celebrated Scottish artist will be on show between 13 January and 14 February 2024.
Urie is an expressionist painter whose techniques include rich colours and thick, textured brush strokes. He will also have sculptures on display – inspired by events in his life, each of which has its own story.
Urie officially started his artistic career in the late 1960s, inspired in the early days by the Renaissance Masters. He undertook printmaking in 1972, influenced by the Surrealists.
He went to study at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in Dundee from 1977 to 1981, after which he studied at the Royal Academy of Arts in London as a postgraduate student for three years.
Urie, who is originally from Glasgow, has travelled extensively and his work can be found in the UK, USA, Denmark, Paris, Jersey and the Isle of Man.
He has exhibited in the UK and abroad since the 1970s. His work was included in 'The Vigorous Imagination' exhibition at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in 1987 – an influential showcase which featured 17 artists making waves on the international art scene, including Urie, Peter Howson, Ken Currie, Philip Braham, Stephen Conroy and Ian Hughes.
The Lillie Art Gallery is providing Urie with the space to showcase a lifetime of work, from the late 1960s to the present day. He views it as the "pinnacle of his exhibiting career".
Urie hopes that those who attend will gain an insight into how he works – from his methods and techniques to how he presents his ideas and tells the story of his life in a visual format.
He said, "Using many symbols and metaphors in a visually ambiguous manner has provided me with many exciting visual challenges to explore in paint, print and drawing.”
Councillor Jim Gibbons, Chair of East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust – which operates the Lillie, said, "We're pleased to be able to host a range of works by the esteemed Joseph Urie – including paintings and sculptures. You're sure of a warm welcome this winter at the Lillie."
The Lillie Art Gallery – Station Road, Milngavie, G62 8BZ – is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-1pm and 2-5pm. Admission is free.
For more venue information, call 0141 956 5536 or visit www.edlc.co.uk/heritage-arts/lillie-art-gallery
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