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Only 2 more weeks left

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Only 2 more weeks left! Don't miss this huge display of over 500 quality contemporary works of art for sale at affordable prices. Thursday 11am has a free Demo by Lynn Howarth. 

Saturdays have a tour of the historic art on permanent display and a chance to find out why Paisley Art Institute has come to enjoy the prestigious Glasgow Art Club. We are meeting so many visitors and our sales have already surpassed last years !

Above all, with this hot weather, be sure to try the delicious Sorbet trio or whatever takes your fancy on the menus in the gallery !

PAI 136th exhibition now open

136 bannerPAI President Joe Hargan welcomed members and guests to the opening of the 136th Anuual Exhibition at the Glasgow Art Club on Saturday 26th April. This year the exhibition presents over 500 works and is the penultimate exposition before our 150th year celebrations in 2026.

In collaboration with the Glasgow Art Club, the exhibition promotes our common purposes to celebrate the richness of artistic expression and to provide a platform for both emerging and established artists to showcase their work.

The President also thanked both patrons and supporters for their unwavering support and belief in the institute and also thanked all the artists who contributed to the exhibition, many of whom picked up one of the 27 awards available this year.

The exhibition is all on one level for ease of access, and you will want to make several return visits to discover the beauty and complexity of the artworks within. The exhibition runs up until the 31st May.

View the photo album here

PAI President Joe Hargan gets ready to open the 136th exhibition on 26th April 2025

The 'Selkie'

selkieIn Scottish mythology the seal people have often been recalled in fireside tales of myths and legends.

The ‘Selkie’ as she is called is at peace in this painting in her underwater realm with her devoted grey seal companion. Together they explore their world in the saltwaters of the west coast of Scotland. Her ability to shape shift from her Selkie form which is at home in the sea to take human form on land is often retold by island folk.

In this painting, the young Selkie turns suddenly as if hearing a noise, her hair floating among the tangled seaweed. She is adorned by the natural sea pearls and starfish of the waters she inhabits. Her beloved seal has its head resting on her shoulder like a cloak that looks like it’s actually part of her and she in turn belongs to the seal.

This mixed media painting is created initially in fine washes of watercolour and then a collage of acrylic inks on tissue. It imagines what an encounter with a Selkie might be like - she is otherworldly and definitely magical.

Inspired by the artistic work of sisters, Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh and Frances Macdonald MacNair, I hope to bring other imaginative Scottish legends to life as part of a series of paintings exploring Scottish mythology.

I hope you enjoy meeting my interpretation of ‘The Selkie’.

Lorna Elliott Hutcheson Artist & Designer

We are all set for 136th

Everything is set for the opening of our 136th Annual Exhibition this coming Saturday 26th April (member preview and awards ceremony). We have over 500 works at this year's exhibition and a record 27 awards, including a new flagship award, the MacKean Award, named after a very important family in our 200-year connection with Paisley. This year we are also proud to be part of the Blythswood Festival. The exhibition will be open on Monday 28th April to the general public in the stunning historical Glasgow Art Club, so why not visit this May and enjoy a lively and packed exhibition.

PAI poster MH136tha

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136th preparation continues

Preparation for the 136th PAI Annual Exhibition at the Glasgow Art Club continues. We now have 505 items now installed, congratulations to everyone who entered.

If your artwork has not been hung, Artist Members and Open Entrants will receive an email regarding collection. Otherwise you can assume your work has been hung.

We have had teams of 10 volunteers a day from 10am to help get the job is done and they've done us proud - all in the space of 1 week 😊

The exhibition opens to the public on Monday 28th April. 

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          preparation photos

Bring on the exhibition !

We are really looking forward to our exhibition! Now we have confirmed 26 awards ranging from £100 value to £1000.00. Competition may be fierce as space is less than we had in Paisley for over 100 years. However our future is bright in the city with our own base again. We so love having our collection back out on show. We meet so many appreciative visitors. Last year a tour of French architects came because of our gallery's Mackintosh features and the lovely lady guide turned out to have worked for Coats before!
Don't forget! As you fill in your submission form, you think that's it and many of you are forgetting to actually pay the submission fee by online transfer.

PAI 136th Poster Irene McCann Small2

136th Exhibition update

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We are thrilled to announce the Open Call for Entries for the 136th Annual Paisley Art Institute Exhibition. Artists are invited to showcase their Art by submitting work.

Hand-in dates Friday 4th and Saturday 5th April. The exhibition is being held at The Glasgow Art Club, our new permanent home.

For all enquiries please email our Exhibition Secretary
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Please share the hand in dates to any artists you know. It's time to get creative for the April hand-in to the PAI 136th Annual Exhibition. There are over 20 awards to be won. 

Open entrants - entries for the exhibition are welcome.

Membership - our Lay Membership category is now open

Join us and get involved and meet new friends. We need help hanging the over 400 paintings and with invigilating during May. The Glasgow Art Club is a listed building full of fine art, including Glasgow boys and our signature piece, 'The Paisley Shawl', We also need historians, who may be interested in hosting tours, or learning about the history of both the Art Club and the Paisley Art Institute, not to mention, Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Support is pouring in

More and more support is pouring in to help PAI promote artists in building a career. Competing to hang in a regular large exhibition along with peers is good for honing your skills. Now, this year we have 26 Awards to enhance your CV. Pictured is James S Davis winner of the William and Mary Armour award at a previous exhibition.

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