Border Crossings: Ten Scottish Masters of Modern Art

The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery & Museum presents 'Border Crossings: Ten Scottish Masters of Modern Art,' an exhibition running from 28 June 2025 to 14 June 2026. Curated by Janet McKenzie, the show highlights ten Scottish-born artists—including Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Eduardo Paolozzi, and William Turnbull—who left Scotland to train and build careers in London, Paris, and New York, contributing significantly to international modernism.

The exhibition matters because it reframes the narrative of 20th-century modern art by focusing on Scottish artists whose work was profoundly shaped by the Second World War and its aftermath. Their experiences of war, travel, and exposure to existentialist thought and non-representational art led to innovative, authentic works that challenged conventions. By connecting these artists' personal journeys to broader global movements, the show underscores Scotland's overlooked role in the development of modern art and invites a reassessment of national identity in art history.