This is an exceptionally large and dramatic original print by the acclaimed Scottish printmaker, Jo Ganter (RSA). It is an early work by her and dates from the 1980s when she was working on images of construction sites - with cranes and angular scaffolding etc. The work is obviously influenced by Piranesi's Carceri or Prisons series - and it was made in 1988 and led to her being awarded a scholarship at the British School in Rome, the following year. This one is the closest to Piranesi's Round Tower etching.
Jo would regularly come in to view the fine set of Piranesi etchings in the Print Room of the National Gallery of Scotland, She brought in groups and used these works as teaching devices to show her students technical accomplishments by one of the greatest printmakers.
It is sold unframed. It is printed on a good quality heavy sheet of Arches paper. The sheet measures 65 x 50 cm and the image is 49.5 x 35 cm.
Jo Ganter was born in Yorkshire and in 1983 moved to Edinburgh to attend Edinburgh College of Art. She graduated in 1988 - the date of this print - which was probably one of her graduation works. The same year she received a John Kinross Scholarship to study for three months in Tuscany.
From 1989-1890, she was a Scholar at The British School of Rome. She returned to Scotland and continued her artistic career while teaching at Glasgow School of Art before joining Edinburgh College of Art as a member of staff in 1995. In 1992, she became a member of the Glasgow Print Studio.
She received a Boise Scholarship and Fellowship from the KALA Arts Institute in 1994. These allowed her to travel and work in print studios in New York and Berkeley for six months. In 2003, she was elected as a full member of the Royal Scottish Academy.
She is a prestigious internationally respected artist - and has had many solo exhibitions, including A.I.R. Gallery in New York in 2000, The Talbot Rice Gallery in 2003, and the Academy Gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania in 2011.
In 2010 she was invited to work at George Mason University in Washington and at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where she was a professor in 2011.
Jo has published numerous articles in journals on printmaking and pedagogical issues surrounding craft and art.
This is an exceptionally rare and early artist's proof by the artist - it is pencil signed and dated 1988. It should really be added to a museum collection as an important work in the history of Scottish contemporary printmaking. The price reflects its early date, and its status as an artist's proof, probably from a very small edition. It is a very fair price for such a large and stunning contemporary Scottish artwork.
Jo's work is already in prestigious collections including the British Museum, in London, the Hunterian Gallery in Glasgow, New York Public Library, and the Ashmolean in Oxford.
More information about Jo Ganter and her art can be found on her website.
UK Posting. The print will be carefully packed into a sturdy tube to send to you - it will be sent with Royal Mail - and it will cost £10 to send to you. This will be applied to your order at the checkout.