The wonderful world of Glasgow street art and graffiti

A panda down an alleyway. A dalek rusting at the bottom of the Clyde.  Abstract geometry in a garden. It’s the wonderful world of Glasgow street and graffiti art.

Glasgow is famous for its modern art but its tradition of street art and public murals actually stretches back to the 1970s, when whimsical socialist-influenced murals were painted at the gable ends of houses. In the last five years street art has sprouted over the city, partly because of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and its associated cultural activities, and partly because of work and activities by artists and groups such as Rogue-one, Art Pistol, VELOCITY, Smug and Recoat. The result has been an explosion of vibrant, colourful murals and abstract art pieces across the city, created by a mix of home-grown and international artists.

Many are familiar and highly-visible but others require poking about alleyways, disused buildings, anonymous estates, residential streets and inward-looking hidden walls. Half the fun is exploring unknown areas of the city to hunt them down. In and amongst the authorised pieces are of course the fly-by-night pieces and galleries of abandoned spaces (see my previous post: The abandoned factory that became an illicit graffiti art gallery) . Their ephemeral nature means they can disappear as quickly as they appear, although usually they’re saved for posterity on the internet by the creators and by archive aficionados.

Detail from Art Pistol’s A View from the Clyde

Art from Recoat’s Rudimentary Perfection’s Exhibition at Woodlands Community Garden

Tennents Brewery mural – detail

Tennents Brewery mural

Found on a barricade to stop urban explorers roaming disused underground tunnels under the Botanical Gardens. Less street art, more lost in the shrubbery amongst the remains of a forgotten train station.

Under the stairs at Kelvinbridge Subway Station – the graffiti art has changed several times over the last few years at this site.

Under the stairs at Kelvinbridge Subway Station – the graffiti art has changed several times over the last few years at this site.

Children pose in front of Art Pistol work.

Amongst my favourites is the Parkead mural by the excellent Good Wives and Warriors. Their richly detailed piece is a celebration of Glasgow, helped by locals who contributed their ideas and memories to the project. I also love this mural partly because its was accompanied by the traditional Glasgow heckle and friendly wit. One frequent taunt was a “Have you no’ finished that yet? The Sistine Chapel was painted quicker!” from a passing bus driver.  (Read this article for an amusing and heartening insight into open air painting in East Glasgow.)

Artistic quality is not always the point, sometimes a piece’s unexpected context escapes the limited confines of the photo frame.  But hopefully this limited selection showcases the diversity and fun of Glasgow’s murals and street art. Art that have enjoyed while wandering about the city as opposed to being a full expert! More information on the works and the artists are available on the links below.

 

George Street mural

Mural and the latest strapline used to market Glasgow (What cities are not made by people?)

This figure appeared in different forms across the city centre, often skulking about in alleyways and doorways like this.

One of Recoat In Common project murals near Ibrox stadium

Typical murals seen across Glasgow depicting the Commonwealth Games 2014

Disused building by the Barras Market on London Road

One of Glasgow’s older murals judging by style and fading

Further information: Glasgow graffiti and mural artists

Recoat’s Rudimentary Perfection (2011) | Recoat on Twitter

Rogue-one

Art Pistol | Art Pistol on Twitter

VELOCITY | Twitter

Smug | Facebook

Good Wives and Warriors | Zoomable image of People’s Painting

Other

In Common Mural Project, Festival 2014, Glasgow Commonwealth Games | Map of murals

Glasgow City Centre Mural trail

Brandalism, Banksy and Bastiat: advert sabotage in Glasgow

Glasgow and Scotland graffiti: online archives and collections

A whole load of Glagow and Scottish street art, graffiti and murals

Discover Glasgow: murals and graffiti

West Coast Walls

Scottish Graffiti

A Hauf Stop: street art and photos of Glasgow

 

Panda down the lane. Mitchell Lane, Glasgow city centre. (Photo: Discover Scotland – http://www.discoverglasgow.org)

Maryhill Community Centre, Maryhill Road. Fading mural survivor from the 1970s (I presume)

Art Pistol’s A View from the Clyde

Note the Mona Lisa holding an Irn Bru can

Purdon Street, part of Recoat’s Commonwealth Games 2014 murals.

This piece was created by Smug in 2013 and depicts the four seasons. Ingram Street, Merchant City