Archie Brennan: Tapestry Goes Pop! tells the story of Edinburgh native Archie Brennan (1931-2019) in the first major exhibition of his work.
Pop artist, weaver, and former Mr Scotland, Archie Brennan, changed the course of modern weaving and is considered one of the greatest unrecognised pop artists of the 20th century. Why unrecognised? Most likely because his medium of choice was tapestry. Bringing together over 80 tapestries as well as archive material, this is a chance to delve into the world of a master of modern tapestry.
Sharp, witty, and immensely talented, Brennan began his 60-year weaving career at Dovecot and was an innovator and iconoclast who inspired weavers all over the world, from Papua New Guinea to Australia. A charismatic character, he dedicated his life to teaching and his influence on weaving can still be felt today. Brennan’s contribution to modern art has not been recognised, until now.
This exhibition was co-curated with National Museums Scotland.