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They each possess a strong association and empathy for Gray鈥檚 School of Art at Robert Gordon University (亚博体育官网) and will have their work shown as part of a special exhibition at Aberdeen Art Gallery that will begin in autumn 2025.

Announced on International Women鈥檚 Day, the women artists are all alumni of Gray鈥檚 who live in the AB postcode 鈥� a requirement of applying for the commission which is aimed to ensure that the talent emerging through Gray鈥檚 is both showcased and invested in. Those selected are:

• Amy Benzie, ceramist;
• Claire Roberts, printmaker;
• Lyndsey Gilmour, painter; and
• Marie-Chantal Hamrock, a multidisciplinary artist.

The artists will be tasked with creating new works inspired by the legacies of four pioneering women artist-educators who each have strong links to Gray鈥檚 and Scottish art: Barbara Balmer, Joyce Cairns, Frances Walker and Sylvia Wishart.

Named 'Performing the Archive: #Correspondences 鈥� Women鈥檚 Voices', the project is led by at Gray's School of Art and funded by Aberdeen City Council - Creative Funding and 亚博体育官网 Art & Heritage Collections.

Inviting a vibrant correspondence between artists of different generations that creates a dynamic interplay to bridge the past, present and future, the project will augment the wider exhibition at Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Sally Reaper, Director of Look Again at Gray鈥檚 School of Art, said: 鈥淚n an art school traditionally dominated by male voices, we were all keen to spotlight four notable women artist-educators who brought invaluable perspectives and fostered a sense of place, guiding students to explore the region鈥檚 unique artistic ecology.

鈥溾�楶erforming the Archive: #Correspondences 鈥� Women鈥檚 Voices鈥� hopes to inspire artists from different generations to explore how influential women transformed Gray鈥檚 into a nurturing environment for generations of artists, designers and makers. We are delighted that Amy, Claire, Lyndsey and Marie-Chantal have accepted to be involved and cannot wait to see the art that they create.鈥�

Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council鈥檚 culture spokesman said: 鈥淕ray鈥檚 School of Art has been an integral part of Aberdeen鈥檚 artistic scene for over 100 years. It is a great pleasure to work with the school to mark International Women鈥檚 Day by celebrating the amazing work of these four women artists.

鈥淭he Council believes strongly in the value and benefits of the arts. It's good to continue our cultural commitment by supporting these significant local artists. The Art Gallery is an excellent venue to showcase their wonderful artworks. I encourage as many as possible to visit and enjoy the exhibition when it will open later this year.鈥�

This year marks the 140th anniversary of Gray鈥檚 School of Art, a historic milestone for an institution founded in 1885 that has an illustrious past and reputation. Its famous art school design, inspired by Mies van der Rohe鈥檚 modernist architecture, is revered across the nation and its annual Gray鈥檚 Degree Show is a North East cultural highlight. It will return to campus this year on 6 鈥� 15 June.

Fast forward to modern times and Gray鈥檚 School of Art was ranked first in Scotland and third in the UK for student satisfaction in Art and Design (Complete University Guide).

A programme of events will soon be announced which, in tandem with Performing the Archive: #Correspondences 鈥� Women鈥檚 Voices, will justly celebrate both the past and present of Gray鈥檚.

Main image: Sally Reaper to the right of Judith Winter, co-curator of the exhibition and a curator, writer, and lecturer at Gray's School of Art.