Portraiture is an age-old artform with a seemingly simple purpose: to record the likeness of a human subject. Yet the enduring appeal of portraiture lies in its complexity. Behind every portrait is a series of stories – interwoven narratives about the sitter, the artist, and the circumstances that brought them together. Unmasked: Exploring Scottish Portraiture examines this genre in depth, with a selection of highlights from the City Art Centre’s permanent collection. Featuring examples of painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking and photography, the exhibition spans almost 400 years of artistic production, from historic portraits by George Jamesone to contemporary works by Sekai Machache. Unmasked shares new research findings from the collection and reveals several recent acquisitions, on display for the first time.

This major retrospective marks a significant moment for the contemporary Edinburgh-based artist, offering a comprehensive overview of his 60-year career. Bringing together over 70 artworks, 'Kenneth Dingwall: Being' features abstract drawings, paintings, prints and constructions. Drawn from public and private collections across the UK, including works from the artist’s studio - some of which have never been exhibited before - the exhibition provides a timely reassessment of his contribution to abstract art.

David Patterson, ex-curator of the City Art Centre, will chair a conversation between the art critic and art historian Duncan Macmillan and the artist Kenneth Dingwall on his exhibition 'Kenneth Dingwall: Being’. This will centre on the relatively slow development of “the extremes” of Modernism in Scotland after the dynamic beginnings of the Glasgow Boys and the Group of Four, who formed around Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Join artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb for a descriptive tour of highlights from the 'Kenneth Dingwall: Being' exhibition. This tour is suitable for visitors with a visual impairment as well as those who would prefer a tactile element.

Join us for a fun expressive art experience with freedom to experiment with shape, texture, and colour to create a colourful pop-up gallery to display your unique expressive abstract artwork. Children of all ages supported by an adult welcome. All materials provided. With artist Stephanie Walker.

An experimental art workshop where you will create a series of dynamic abstractions. We will explore colour theory and rhythmical forms using collage, mixed media and simple printing techniques. You will have a short visit to the exhibition to gather reference material in your sketchbook (provided), then explore in the art room to expand these designs into a larger wall-based work. All materials provided. With artist Stephanie Walker.

Join artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb for a descriptive tour of highlights from the 'Kenneth Dingwall: Being' exhibition. This tour is suitable for visitors with a visual impairment as well as those who would prefer a tactile element.

Join artist Kenneth Dingwall for an overview of his work. His training in the mid-1950s at Edinburgh College of Art was focused on the human figure and still life. Edinburgh at that time had no gallery of modern art and no abstract art was shown in the few commercial galleries that existed. As a student, the discovery of the National Museum of Antiquities, where abstract forms were drawn onto and cut into stone, bone and ceramic, blew him away. Dingwall’s talk will cover the importance of the impact that these forms generated, and how through them, an awareness grew that all of our senses, not just visual, are central to both making and understanding art.

A relaxing and soothing art workshop through the discovery of abstract art principles. We will start with a short, guided tour of the exhibition for inspiration, and then retreat to the peaceful space of the art room. You will experiment with colour using papers, cards, ink, paint and your imagination to create a wearable accessory along with a series of small artworks ideal for greeting cards and special gifts. All materials provided. With artist Stephanie Walker.

Abstract art in the Western world is generally considered to have its origins in the 19th century, becoming fully fledged in the early 20th century and celebrated widely today through the work of contemporary artists like Kenneth Dingwall. This talk, by Dr Tertia Barnett, School of History, Classics and Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh, explores a far older tradition of abstract mark-making, rooted in Scottish prehistory. It takes us back 5,000 years to a time when early farming communities across Scotland carved abstract geometric motifs into natural rock surfaces in the landscape. Thousands of these carvings survive today and they form a unique part of our heritage, but why were they made and what purpose did they serve? The talk will discuss how our interpretations of Scotland’s rock art have evolved in line with changing archaeological perspectives and techniques.