The List

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Two

Opened in 1999 in a former orphanage, the Scottish National Galleries' second modern art gallery, formerly known as the Dean Gallery, stands across the road from its partner, just outside Edinburgh’s Dean Village. Since its opening it has housed the Paolozzi Gift, a collection of works by Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, given to the gallery in 1994. It also has an extensive collection of Dada and Surrealist art and literature. The gallery has a large garden that contains several sculptures, as well as a picnic area for sunny days. For less perfect weather, however, the Café Modern Two inside serves some fantastic light lunches and snacks.

What's On @ Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Two

Ian Hamilton Finlay

Ian Hamilton Finlay

6 May 2025 - 26 May 2025

The centenary of celebrated Scottish artist Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925–2006) is marked by this free display of his work at Modern Two. Sculptor, poet, printmaker, gardener and provocateur, he achieved international renown from the 1970s. Rarely leaving his home in the Pentland Hills, he created a garden of sculptures that attracts visitors from all over the world. Occupying the ground floor rooms of Modern Two, the display includes sculptures, prints and a room-size installation as well as extensive archival material.
Resistance: How protest shaped Britain & photography shaped protest
Conceived by acclaimed artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen, Resistance explores how acts of resistance have shaped life in the UK, and the powerful role of photography in documenting and driving change. This exhibition will bring together works by renowned photographers such as Vanley Burke, John Deakin, Fay Godwin, Edith Tudor-Hart, David Hurn, Tish Murtha, Humphrey Spender, and Paul Trevor, alongside lesser-known photographers who documented these powerful stories. Drawing photographs from various archives, collections and image libraries, McQueen has deliberately focused on moments captured before digital cameras became commonplace.

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