The Peter Chang Collection and Archive

etched drawing of man with black hair on brown background.

A major collection of Peter Chang's work comes to Glasgow

Generously donated by the Peter Chang Estate.

From major sculptures and jewellery to prints and etching plates, this significant gift includes artworks spanning Peter Chang’s artistic life from his schooldays to his last unfinished jewellery piece.

Visual Artist Peter Chang is internationally known for his distinctive ‘wearable sculpture’: colourful jewellery skilfully crafted from acrylic, resins, PVC and found plastics. His work is united by his wit and playful surreal style, his love of colour, and his eye for uniting intriguing forms and sublime line.

However, this collection gifted to Glasgow is so much more, showcasing Chang’s breadth of creative output across his lifetime and across a variety of media: drawings, collages, sketches and notebooks; maquettes, templates, experiments and unfinished pieces; workshop tools and raw materials; photographs and a comprehensive documentary and reference archive.

A colorful, sculptural ring-like object with intricate multicolored patterns, raised bead-like details, and a purple segmented top, photographed against a white background.
Bracelet, 1994, acrylic, resin and mirrored acrylic over a polyurethane foam and papier-mache core.
The Peter Chang Estate’s generous gift to Glasgow Life Museums is a major addition to our civic art and design collection. It is a privilege, and an enormous responsibility, to care for, research, exhibit and celebrate Peter’s achievements, creativity and legacy.
Jane Rowlands Head of Museums and Collections

Inspiring and totally unique

Decorative round bowl with a vibrant red exterior and an intricately patterned interior. The inside features a blue marbled surface filled with gold and cream circular shapes of varying sizes, while black geometric sections separate the colourful panels. Metallic gold, silver, and copper detailing around the rim adds a reflective, ornate finish. The bowl is photographed against a plain light background.
Sculpture - bowl, 1993, acrylic, resin, metal leaf: gold, silver and copper, commercial glitter and mirrored acrylic over carved wood
insect shaped colourful brooch
Brooch, 1986, acrylic, resin, PVC, glass and metal wire
square abstract print in red and peach colours using smooth curved lines
Untitled print, About 1967, engraving, etching, soft-ground etching, simultaneous intaglio and relief inking on paper
It is really unusual for a museum collection to get the opportunity to acquire such a complete body of work by an artist that shows the whole creative process.
Alison Brown Curator, European Decorative Art and Design from 1851 to present at Glasgow Life Museums

Distinctive, joyful and surreal

Triangular red glass dish with softly curved sides and rounded corners, shown against a light grey background. The translucent surface features a cluster of raised circular forms in the centre, surrounded by a dotted border. Gradients of red, orange and yellow create a glowing effect, while subtle crackle-like patterns appear near the edges.
Triangular object, 1994, resin, acrylic and PVC over carved wood
Close-up of a textured grey surface engraved with concentric spiral bands made up of small triangular and diamond-shaped motifs. The geometric pattern radiates inward toward a central spiral, creating a sense of movement and depth. The matte, stone-like surface shows subtle variations in tone and texture.
Etching plate, about 1968-70, zinc
A mechanical device facing a classical female sculpture on a gridded floor, set against a dark background.
Untitled, 1966, collage and artists’ pencil on pastel paper
It's a feast of the imagination! 'It's fun, it's joyous, it's colourful, it's modern, and it's incredibly inventive and museum collections are all about the invention and creativity of humanity and history and Peter's work crosses all of that and more.'
Alison Brown Curator, European Decorative Art and Design from 1851 to present at Glasgow Life Museums
Decorative torus-shaped sculpture with a smooth, glossy surface featuring swirling pink, green, and white marbled patterns. The object is embellished with colorful geometric motifs in red, blue, yellow, black, and white, and is displayed against a plain light grey background with a soft shadow beneath it.
Bracelet, 1989, resin, acrylic, found plastic objects (including cut up felt tip pen casings and disposable razors) over a polyurethane foam and papier-mâché core
A detailed chalk-style illustration on a dark background showing a tangled, octopus-like mechanical creature intertwined with wires, tubes, springs, clamps, gears, and electrical components.

Coming late 2026

A display of Peter's work is planned for Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

It will present a range of sculptures, jewellery and prints and provide a small taster of both Peter’s astonishing working processes and highlights from this important gift to Glasgow.

Dates to be announced soon.

colourful yellow red green and pink stylised bracelet

Can't wait?

Get a taste of the world of Peter Chang before it comes to Kelvingrove

For London Design Week September 2026, Lyon & Turnbull presented the exhibition More is More: the Magical World of Peter Chang in partnership with The Peter Chang Estate and Glasgow Life Museums.

Take a look at the exhibition website which includes a video about Peter Chang’s work and a summary biography.

Image credits, unless listed above

All photos © of Barbara Santos-Shaw Chang and Sons. Photography: Alex Robson.

A major collection of Peter Chang's work comes to Glasgow - Peter Chang, Untitled – self portrait, about 1966, linocut on paper.

Coming late 2026 - Peter Chang, Untitled, 1966-67, coloured artists' pencils on pastel paper. 

Can't wait? - Peter Chang, Brooch, 2014-15, acrylic, resin and found reflector plastic over a carved wood core.

Explore how this Peter Chang collection came to call Glasgow home.

Find out more