Celebrating the Design Journey’ Commonwealth Games Medals at The Glasgow School of Art’ is a new exhibition inspired by the Glasgow 2026 Festival theme of ‘Celebration’, and brings the design process behind the creation of the Commonwealth Medals of Glasgow 2014 and 2026 to life. Curated by Izzy Laishley, an MLitt in Curatorial Practice (Contemporary Art) student at the GSA, the exhibition features materials from The Glasgow School of Art Archives & Collections alongside a documentary film which will run at Window on Heritage from 10 July till 8 August.
This immersive exhibition traces the creative journeys behind the making of both the 2014 and 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games Medals, from initial inspirations to first sketches to finished objects, revealing the fascinating inner workings of the creative process. The GSA’s Silversmithing & Jewellery programmes’ international reputation made it a natural partner for the Commonwealth Games medals — a relationship that has shaped both the 2014 and 2026 designs. The medals for the 2014 Games were created by award-winning artist, designer, jeweller and academic, Dr Jonathan Boyd, and captured the industrial history and distinctive character of Glasgow. The 2026 edition of the medals was designed by award-winning artist, designer, and GSA Silversmith & Jewellery graduate Militsa Milenkova, originally from Bulgaria, exploring the connection she has formed with the city that has become her chosen home.
Featuring braille and tactile elements for the first time in the history of the Commonwealth Games, the 2026 medal ensures inclusion is tangible and physically felt in the hands of every athlete. Inspired by Glasgow’s shipbuilding heritage, rich landscape, and coat of arms, the medal takes the form of a Reuleaux triangle, featuring the iconic Finnieston Crane, Scottish tartan, and the three tiers of the podium, forming a rich surface and story to be unravelled and discovered.
The exhibition features a wide range of materials which illustrate the design process and journey, including original sketches, design proposals, wax and 3D models alongside medals, posters, and commemorative pieces from the 2014 Games. ‘To Hold a City, The making of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games medals’ a short film by BAFTA Scotland award-winning filmmaker and GSA graduate Callum Rice, will have its premiere as part of the exhibition. Weaving together process, archive material and voices from across the School of Design, the city and the Games, Callum’s film traces how metal, memory, touch, and the city’s industrial heritage are shaped into objects of lasting meaning.
Also part of the exhibition, and further showcasing the traditional craft skill of The Glasgow School of Art, is Technical Department assistant Annie Graham’s commission for Commonwealth Scotland’s King’s Baton. Annie’s design celebrates the spirit of Scotland through the ‘Clydebuilt’ theme— drawing inspiration from Glasgow’s craft and making culture, its shipbuilding and maritime history.
Annie showcases advanced fabrication skills in woodcarving and marquetry using recycled oak and timber like birch and sapele. Central to her design is the thistle—a powerful Scottish motif of endurance—alongside a stainless steel inlay depicting the Clyde river and an iconic Highland Stag. The project holds deep personal resonance for Graham; her childhood at Meadowbank Stadium connects her directly to the 1970 Games and gold medalist Lachie Stewart, a national hero of the first ever Games held in Scotland, a highly skilled and respected ship model-maker. An interview with Annie exploring her inspiration and process made by Commonwealth Games Scotland can be viewed HERE.
Connecting the objects, the making, and the stories that carry across cultures and bring people together, the exhibition traces the design decisions, materials, inspirations and ideas that combine to shape symbols of sporting excellence, cultural identity, camaraderie and belonging.
An accompanying activities programme of guided tours allows visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the exhibition. Drop-in exhibition tours (pre-booking not required) run every Friday and Saturday 1-1.30pm across the exhibition run, and daily Monday to Sat between 1-1.30pm throughout the Commonwealth Games dates from 23 July till 2 August.
There will be a preview event on the evening of the 9th July between 5-7pm in the gallery. Entry to this event is free, but please book through Eventbrite HERE.
For further information please contact press@gsa.ac.uk
Notes for Editors
Opening Hours: on-Sat 1-1.30pm over Commonwealth Games period (23 July – 2 August 2026).
Accessibility Guide.
The exhibition takes place in the Window on Heritage (an accessible venue), on the ground floor of the Reid Building at The Glasgow School of Art, on Renfrew Street. Pedestrian entry to the Reid Building is best accessed via Scott Street. Please note that Scott Street is a steep hill with a 20% gradient from Sauchiehall Street, with average-width pavements. Alternatively, you can travel up Dalhousie Street from Sauchiehall Street, which has a less steep gradient than Scott Street. The main entrance of the Reid Building is located on Renfrew Street.
About Militsa Milenkova
Militsa is an award-winning artist, designer, metalworker, and silversmith based in Glasgow. She holds a BA (Hons) in Silversmithing and Jewellery from The Glasgow School of Art. Her practice centres on creating objects as a way of expressing thoughts, emotions, and personal reflections. Drawn to ideas that spark her curiosity, she uses material experimentation to explore them further. Through a process-led and material-driven approach, her work pushes the boundaries of contemporary metal smithing by combining refined technical skill with conceptual enquiry. Through her work, she examines the everyday and the overlooked, questioning how value and meaning are assigned to objects. By reinterpreting familiar forms, materials, and objects, Militsa invites viewers to reconsider what is precious and why. Her work prompts quiet reflection on worth, memory, materiality, and the evolving role of contemporary craft within design and art. Militsa’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, is held in private collections, and includes high-profile commissions.
About the exhibition curator
Izzy Laishley is an emerging interdisciplinary curator interested in art as a form of experience, to create shared spaces for exploration, play, immersion, reflection, and feeling. She holds an MA in Philosophy from KU Leuven, Belgium, and is completing an MLitt in Curatorial Practice (Contemporary Art) at The Glasgow School of Art.
About Glasgow 2026 Festival
The Glasgow 2026 Festival is a ten-week celebration of Glasgow’s world-renowned culture, creativity and communities. Running from 23 May to 9 August 2026, the city-wide programme will include hundreds of events, performances, artworks and participation opportunities inspired by the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, bringing together culture, sport and community activity which will create experiences that stay with people long after the Games.
Developed and delivered by Glasgow Life in collaboration with Glasgow 2026, and supported by Commonwealth Sport, the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, sportscotland, Creative Scotland, and VisitScotland, the programme will bring events – the majority free to attend – to every corner of the city, helping ensure the impact of Glasgow 2026 is felt far beyond the sporting competition itself.
A total of 161 artists, cultural organisations, sports clubs and community groups have received support to deliver projects across all 23 wards of the city, following more than 400 applications to the Glasgow 2026 Festival Fund. Backed by a £1.25 million funding initiative, the programme places local people, creativity and participation at the heart of the summer’s celebrations.
Alongside major events including Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Art, Glasgow Mela, Merchant City Festival and partnerships with Piping Live! and Scottish Opera, the programme will showcase world-class contemporary art commissions through Glasgow International and a series of standalone projects. Community celebrations, sports showcases, live performances and opportunities to take part in activities across the city will bring the spirit of the Games into neighbourhoods throughout Glasgow, creating a vibrant summer-long celebration of culture, creativity and sport.
Glasgow2026festival.com
About The Glasgow School of Art
The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) is internationally recognised as one of Europe’s leading independent university-level institutions for education and research in the visual creative disciplines – ranking 8th in the world and 5th in Europe in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Our studio-based, specialist, practice-led teaching, learning, and research draw talented individuals with a shared passion for visual culture and creative production from all over the world.
Originally founded in 1845 as one of the first Government Schools of Design, the School’s history can be traced back to 1753 and the establishment of the Foulis Academy, delivering a European-style art education. Today, the GSA is an international community of over 3,500 students and staff across architecture, design, digital, fine art, and innovation in our campuses in Glasgow and Altyre (in the Scottish Highlands) and a thriving Open Studio programme delivering non-degree provision to over 1,500 students annually.
