Collection and archive of celebrated artist and jewellery maker Peter Chang given to Glasgow

Glasgow Life Museums is deeply honoured to have been chosen as the custodian of the collection and archive of the internationally renowned artist Peter Chang (1944-2017), who is well-known for his innovative use of plastic and other modern materials in sculpture and jewellery.

This extraordinary gift is an exceptional addition to Glasgow’s civic art and design collection, and the city will ensure that this remarkable body of work continues to receive great care and is made available for display and research.

A selection of Peter’s works from across his career will go on display at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum later this year.

His work is about to be featured in an exhibition called More is More: The Magical World of Peter Chang at Lyon & Turnbull London as part of London Design Festival. Peter Chang Exhibition | London Design Festival

Through the generosity of the Peter Chang Estate, Glasgow is the proud recipient of the Peter Chang legacy. From major sculptures and jewellery to prints and etching plates, the gift includes artworks spanning Peter Chang’s artistic life from his schooldays to his last unfinished piece: early sculptural explorations in ancient techniques and traditional materials such as bronze casting, wood carving, stone carving; drawings, collages, sketches and notebooks; maquettes, templates, experiments and unfinished pieces; workshop tools and raw materials; photographs and a comprehensive documentary and reference archive.

For researchers, students, artists and curious visitors of every age, the educational potential of Peter’s archive is immense.

Peter moved with his family from Liverpool to Glasgow in 1987, a year when he was gaining an international profile for his exuberant sculptural use of plastics and wearable art. He exhibited in the first Biennale de Bijoux Précieux / Semi-précieux in Paris, an exhibition paying particular attention to the use of new materials in jewellery.

He also featured on the catwalk, in Vogue, at the V&A and in Bloomingdales New York accessorising the collection of fashion designer Rifat Özbek. The first of Peter’s many solo shows was in Amsterdam in 1988.

The works Peter created in Glasgow are now held in many of the world’s most famous public and private jewellery collections.

Although Peter Chang became internationally recognised for significantly influencing contemporary jewellery, he regarded himself first and foremost as a visual artist. With a background in fine art printmaking and sculpture, his explorations of, and fascination with materials and processes, together with visual idea development became the backbone of his work, evolving into jewellery, or wearable sculpture, as he would often call it.

Peter’s work often reflected elements of nature and human creation. He often used everyday materials, turning them into extraordinary, beautiful, and colourful objects. Working primarily with synthetic resins and plastics, Peter Chang’s unorthodox and playful approach to object making and fascination in pushing the boundaries with process and materials together with his incredible patience, resulted in sublime, strange, and exuberant art objects.

His fascination with colour began as a fine art printmaker, where he explored layered surfaces, abrasion, and relief before carrying these discoveries into sculpture and, later, jewellery.

Barbara Santos Shaw Chang, Peter’s wife, said of the gift of the collection and archive: “Peter Chang is an Internationally renowned artist, best known for his Jewellery, which is only one aspect of his total creative out-put.

“The Gift to Glasgow includes, his sculpture, prints, his remarkable etching plates which really are low-relief sculptures, countless drawings, working drawings for objects, sculpture and jewellery, school drawings, his extensive archives, and his workshop. 

“It will be available to attract visitors of all nationalities to Glasgow because Peter Chang is such a well-known international figure.

Barbara continued: “Which major museum I would finally settle on, to gift the 'Peter Chang Legacy’ to, was not easy, believe me! It took much research and enquiry on my part before the final decision, and involved considering several other museums, in Scotland, England, Germany and America, where important collections of Peter’s work already existed.

“Wherever the bulk of Peter’s remaining work would go, the museum had to be educationally involved and active; warmly accessible to a full range of public and age groups and outside visitors and be involved in a full range of research which would be of benefit nationally and internationally.

“Above all it should be considered by the surrounding public, as loved and totally accessible and belonging to them.

“In other words, a museum essential to the wellbeing of the whole community, but also importantly, able to attract visitors from Scotland, the UK and overseas.

“I chose Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, to offer the gift of Peter Chang’s precious legacy. It fits all those hopes and wishes.

“Also, I am greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm, vision and commitment of curator Alison Brown and the staff at Kelvingrove, and in the knowledge that many schools, in Glasgow and across Scotland (and indeed parts of England), include studying Peter's work as part of their curriculum. 

“I hope the 'Peter Chang Legacy’ will be a huge draw for the city, and hopefully Glasgow will take him into its heart.” 

Alison Brown, Curator, European Decorative Art and Design from 1851 to present at Glasgow Life Museums said: “It is an absolute delight to be taking this collection in. 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. I was really struck by Peter's thoughtful and mindful working processes. It's a feast of the imagination; Peter doesn't want to dictate how you read his work, it's down to your own imagination and reading, and that opens the door for people to bring their own ideas and responses to his work. 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 Peter's work crosses all of that and more.”

Jane Rowlands, Head of Museums and Collections at Glasgow Life said: “The Peter Chang Estate’s generous gift to Glasgow Life Museums is a major addition to our civic art and design collection. His vision, wit, incredible skill, and attention to detail are astonishing to see and appreciate. It is a privilege, and an enormous responsibility, to care for, research, exhibit and celebrate Peter’s achievements, creativity, and legacy, while sharing his work with new audiences.”