Sam Ainsley: Wednesday is Cobalt blue, Friday is Cadmium red

Katie Bruce, 10 May 2024
A large wall mural made of three irregular, abstract acrylic paintings on canvas, bias bound in red ribbon . The left panel is dark blue with branching white, green, and red vein‑like lines in a muscular form. The centre panel shows a detailed anatomical heart with red and blue vessels against a pale blue background. The right panel is a warm ochre coloured background with a blue shape with a green acanthus leaf painted on top of it. The overall style is bold, colourful, and anatomical‑botanical in theme.

Blue Body, Red Centre, Green Acanthus, 2023 by Sam Ainsley © and courtesy the artist. Photo Alan Dimmick

Post highlighting the publication launch for Sam Ainsley's solo exhibition 'Wednesday is Cobalt blue, Friday is Cadmium red', 25 November 2023–30 June 2024.

 

This beautiful book celebrating the work of Sam Ainsley was published on the occasion of her her solo exhibition in GoMA - Wednesday is Cobalt blue, Friday is Cadmium red, 25 November 2023–30 June 2024. The show represented a deeply personal culmination of recent work, making a powerful statement about who Sam is as an artist living in Glasgow and drew strands together from nearly 50 years of art practice.

In this limited edition publication designed by Graphical House, the works in the show are reproduced in full colour and it also includes a specially commissioned essay by Dr Catriona McAra reflecting on the work in the exhibition and Sam’s practice as both an artist and a renowned pedagogue.

Catriona has written a beautiful response to Sam’s work and it was first published here on this blog for Women’s History Month 2024 and we were fortunate to be able to host Sam and Catriona in conversation for International Women’s Day, 8 March 2024. The recording of this fantastic evening in now available to watch below.

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International Women’s Day: Sam Ainsley and Dr Catriona McAra in conversation at GoMA for International Women's Day 2024

Sam Ainsley RSA is an artist and teacher and until 2005 was Head of the Master of Fine Art (MFA) programme at The Glasgow School of Art (GSA). She has forged a remarkable career within the visual arts sector, nationally and internationally.

Dr Catriona McAra is an art historian and curator based in Scotland. She is currently writing a book on Scottish contemporary women artists.