Sam Ainslie
- Reference:GB 2610 GMA A83
- Dates of Creation:1984
- Physical Description:3 items
Scope and Content
2 x gouache designs for banners for Portico, commissioned for the opening of Gallery of Modern Art at John Watson's School 1984;
1 x file with manuscript and typescript autobiographical notes (3 items)
Administrative / Biographical History
Sam Ainslie was born in North Shields, Tyne and Wear in 1950. After training in Leeds and at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Polytechnic, in 1975 she spent six weeks studying Sukiya architecture in Japan. This experience influenced her use of natural materials in her work, and in the 1970s she created wall-hangings using canvas, cotton bindings and wood. In 1977 she moved to Edinburgh to study tapestry at Edinburgh College of Art and has also taught at the Glasgow School of Art. Her recent work has incorporated abstract shapes and brighter colours, overlaying and sewing together canvas materials. She also explores the theme of women in contemporary society, depicting stylized female forms on sewn canvas, painted with acrylics. In 1984 she was commissioned to make five 20ft banners for the opening of the SNGMA building in Edinburgh.
Access Information
The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Archives and Special Collections are open Monday - Friday, 10.00 - 1.00 and 2.00 - 4.30 by appointment only. Please contact Modern2ReadingRoom@nationalgalleries.org to arrange a time to visit. As we are a small team, we request that you get in touch 1 – 2 weeks before you intend to visit so that we can check availability.
Conditions Governing Use
All material is subject to copyright restrictions. Requests to reproduce original material should be made to the National Galleries of Scotland’s Image Licensing team (https://www.nationalgalleries.org/copyright-image-licensing).
Custodial History
Presented by the artist 1984