Portraits pay tribute to people on the frontline of the pandemic

Date: 
Tuesday, 17 January, 2023


A new exhibition aims to celebrate the unsung heroes who helped to save lives and protect communities during the pandemic.Official opening of exhibition with artist Karen Strang, East Dunbartonshire Provost Gillian Renwick and Clackmannanshire Provost Donald Balsillie

'Look Aboot Ye: Caring Through COVID' by Karen Strang is on at the Lillie Art Gallery, Milngavie, until 23 February 2023.

The free exhibition features a selection of around 100 portraits of key workers, home carers and shielders - created and gifted by Karen during the first months of the pandemic.

Eminent Scottish artist Alexander Moffat said, “The portraits were of the highest quality, capturing in paint the unique humanity of each individual despite the masks and PPE equipment that by necessity had to be worn."

A book of portraits was also produced and Karen has created a large-scale oil painting featuring 55 people from the book as they are now.

Karen's artworks have been viewed widely, with two projected in Piccadilly Circus as part of the NHS birthday celebrations and an exhibition at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, under the auspices of Artlink Central.

Jim Neill - Chair of East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust, which operates the Lillie - said, "We're honoured to be hosting this poignant and vibrant exhibition, which is a fitting tribute to some of the unsung heroes who helped keep people safe during the pandemic."East Dunbartonshire Provost Gillian Renwick and Clackmannanshire Provost Donald Balsillie are pictured in front of paintings at the exhibition

'Look Aboot Ye: Caring Through COVID' is on at the Lillie Art Gallery, Station Road, Milngavie, G62 8BZ, from 14 January to 23 February 2023. For opening times, visit the EDLC website [opens in new window].

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