Gordon Cockburn and Ronald Rae - a conversation over five decades. The joint retrospective exhibition, was on display at the Baird Institute in Cumnock between 18 May and 31 August 2024. 

This exhibition followed the path of two Ayrshire artists who met in the 1970’s and became lifelong friends. Both artists held a desire to capture the heights and depths of the human soul, exploring subjects outwith the mainstream. The artists’ transcendent achievement is an ability to use gesture, line and form to shortcut emotional expression. They worked closely together in the 1970’s (‘converge’), and the exhibition then follows the subsequent development of each artist (‘diverge’).

This exhibition was guest curated by Robert De Mey, and developed in partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Council and South Ayrshire Council as part of a three venue retrospective tour to Rozelle House in Nov 23-Jan 2024 and Gracefield Arts Centre in Feb-April 2024.

Thank you to sponsors Tay Letting and DW Shaw