One of the UK’s
leading gallerists, Glasgow-based Toby Webster, has been awarded an Honorary
Doctor of Letters at the 2015 Glasgow School of Art graduation ceremony today,
19 June 2015. A graduate in Environmental Art from the GSA (1993) Webster is
the force behind The Modern Institute.
leading gallerists, Glasgow-based Toby Webster, has been awarded an Honorary
Doctor of Letters at the 2015 Glasgow School of Art graduation ceremony today,
19 June 2015. A graduate in Environmental Art from the GSA (1993) Webster is
the force behind The Modern Institute.
Toby Webster after the GSA graduation ceremony where
he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters
Established in 1998 by
Webster in partnership with former
Tramway and current Van Abbemuseum Director, Charles Esche, and writer and curator
Will Bradley, the Modern Institute was created to support Scottish artists. By
2004, headed by Webster himself, The Modern Institute had become recognised as
a gallery of international repute, and an outstanding commercial success of the
Scottish art world.
Webster in partnership with former
Tramway and current Van Abbemuseum Director, Charles Esche, and writer and curator
Will Bradley, the Modern Institute was created to support Scottish artists. By
2004, headed by Webster himself, The Modern Institute had become recognised as
a gallery of international repute, and an outstanding commercial success of the
Scottish art world.
The Modern Institute represents 42 of
the worlds leading contemporary artists, many of whom studied at The Glasgow
School of Art, including Turner Prize winners Martin Boyce (2011), Richard
Wright (2009) and Simon Starling (2005) along with Jim Lambie, Toby Paterson,
Cathy Wilkes and Sue Tomkins and Haley Tompkins. Other Modern Institute artists
include Jeremy Deller, Thomas Houseago, Nicolas Party, Eva Rothschild and
Monika Sosnowska.
the worlds leading contemporary artists, many of whom studied at The Glasgow
School of Art, including Turner Prize winners Martin Boyce (2011), Richard
Wright (2009) and Simon Starling (2005) along with Jim Lambie, Toby Paterson,
Cathy Wilkes and Sue Tomkins and Haley Tompkins. Other Modern Institute artists
include Jeremy Deller, Thomas Houseago, Nicolas Party, Eva Rothschild and
Monika Sosnowska.
“We are delighted to
recognise the contribution Toby has made to the city and to Glasgow’s visual
arts community over the last 16 years,” says Professor Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow School of Art. “The Modern Institute has been of huge
importance not only in promoting the work of Glasgow artists, but of Glasgow as
one of Europe’s leading centres for contemporary art.’
recognise the contribution Toby has made to the city and to Glasgow’s visual
arts community over the last 16 years,” says Professor Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow School of Art. “The Modern Institute has been of huge
importance not only in promoting the work of Glasgow artists, but of Glasgow as
one of Europe’s leading centres for contemporary art.’
“As an alumnus of The
Glasgow School of Art, it is a great honour to have been put forward to receive
an honorary doctorate,” says Webster. “I carry the
essence of the school around with me throughout my life and its influence goes
far beyond the building.”
Glasgow School of Art, it is a great honour to have been put forward to receive
an honorary doctorate,” says Webster. “I carry the
essence of the school around with me throughout my life and its influence goes
far beyond the building.”
Toby Webster cut his teeth in London
and Glasgow as a young artist and designer. Brought up in Glasgow, where his
grandfather had been a prominent stained-glass artist, he worked in London for
the designer Ron Arad before studying environmental art at Glasgow School of
Art. He graduated in 1993 and came back in the mid-1990s to join the committee
of Transmission Gallery. His CV also includes stints as a curator at the CCA and
London’s ICA.
and Glasgow as a young artist and designer. Brought up in Glasgow, where his
grandfather had been a prominent stained-glass artist, he worked in London for
the designer Ron Arad before studying environmental art at Glasgow School of
Art. He graduated in 1993 and came back in the mid-1990s to join the committee
of Transmission Gallery. His CV also includes stints as a curator at the CCA and
London’s ICA.
Ends
Further information
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474
press@gsa.ac.uk
Note for Editors
- The Honorary Doctorate, which was conferred by
The University of Glasgow, was awarded at the GSA Graduation ceremony on the
morning of Friday 19 June 2015 at the Bute Hall, University of Glasgow.