Head of an Idealist

Ken Currie was born in North Shields, Northumberland to Scottish parents in 1960. He moved to Scotland to attend the Paisley College of Technology studying Social Science (1977-8) but in 1978 attended Glasgow School of Art graduating in 1983. The mid 1980 saw a resurgence in painting and new group of young Glasgow Artists came to the fore following the exhibition ‘New Image Glasgow’ at the Third Eye Centre (now the CCA, Glasgow) in 195/6 and ‘Vigorous Imagination’ at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in 1987.   He exhibited alongside his fellow students Steve Campbell, Adrian Wiznesci, Peter Howson in London and New York. His subject matter looked at the gritty working world of Glasgow from its steel yards and docks to the deprived estates of the Govan and Easterhouse. Strongly influenced by two years of making and studying films, his works have a cinematic quality and a heightened realism of form and colour. He continues to paint and exhibit his work nationally and internationally.