Outside Right at the Sunset Gate
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Object number19829
TitleOutside Right at the Sunset Gate
Creator Steven Campbell, (Artist)
DescriptionOutside Right at the Sunset Gate was painted in 1994 by Steven Campbell, a Scottish figurative artist who found international fame in the 1980s. His work was promoted by some in the art world as belonging to the New Glasgow Boys movement, alongside Ken Currie and Peter Howson.
Campbell often found inspiration in literature and this painting was influenced by the poetry of Algernon Swinburne. While the figure holding the canvas could be said to bear some similarity to the artist himself, it is just one of a long line of characters represented in Campbell’s work. There is more than a hint of surrealism here: the canvas held by the man is covered with distorted faces, their guarded stares hiding a wealth of memories or dreams. The bold, rich colours of the sunburst reference the Sunset Gate of the title.
Steven Campbell was born in Glasgow. He began his working life as an engineer, before studying at Glasgow School of Art. After graduating in 1982 he went to New York on a Fulbright Scholarship. Commercial success followed, yet Campbell decided to return to Scotland.
He admired the work of early 20th century modern painters such as Cézanne and Picasso and drew inspiration from surrealist artists and film directors.
Campbell’s first Scottish exhibition was held at the Fruitmarket Gallery in 1985. His large, colourful paintings, with their vivid imagery and intriguing subject matter wowed visitors. In the years before his untimely death in 2007, Campbell and his family moved to Kippen to the west of Stirling.
Object namePainting, Oil Painting
MaterialOil/Canvas
Dimensions
Width: 920 mm
Height: 1140 mm
Height: 1140 mm