Aberdeen, as ancient as it is modern, offers locals and visitors a privileged place for the appreciation of art. The Aberdeen Art Gallery showcases a prominent collection of modern Scottish and international art.
In the exhibition area, consisting of 18 galleries and a sculpture courtyard, one can admire drawings, paintings, and sculptures from the 15th century to the present. It is also possible to recreate moments and people from history through each piece, or enjoy concerts and events in the Cowdray Hall.
The Art Gallery houses works by French painters Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, along with astonishing illustrations, sculptures, and prints by Scottish artists John Bulloch Souter, Ian Hamilton Finlay, and James McBey.
Its permanent exhibitions include works by English painters Paul Nash and Francis Bacon, imbued with themes of war and landscape; complemented by pieces of applied arts and crafts.
Impressive Architecture
The imposing granite architecture in the center of Aberdeen was designed by local architect Alexander Marshall McKenzie, known for being responsible for other important buildings, including the Bank of the Isle of Man and the Waldorf Hotel in London.
The Aberdeen Art Gallery was inaugurated in 1885, and since then, its Fine Arts collection has been growing. Between 1901 and 1905, an expansion was necessary. The original architect then directed the work and added the sculpture courtyard.
In the 1920s, an exhibition hall and a war memorial monument were built at the western end of the building. This space today displays honor rolls, books, and recognitions for those fallen in World War I and World War II, and other armed conflicts, all facilitated by the Court of the Memorial Court.
Continued Expansion of the Aberdeen Art Gallery
To “foster a taste for art and music in Aberdeen”, the Viscountess of Cowdray, Annie Pearson, promoted the construction of the Cowdray Hall. The concert and performance hall of the Aberdeen Art Gallery, which was inaugurated on September 25, 1925, by King George V and Queen Mary.
Since its opening in the late 19th century, the Art Gallery only closed its doors between 2015 and 2019, a period during which the spaces were renovated thanks to the sponsorship of the Aberdeen City Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The renovation project was designed by Hoskins Architects.
In 2019, the Art Gallery reopened to the public with refurbished rooms, numerous national and international treasures, events, and the possibility to connect with history. With the development of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, a free app was created for the digital guidance of users, enabling them to learn more about the building and its exhibitions.
