Contemporary Art Trail

The life-sized sculpture of Homeless Jesus was created by Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz to raise awareness about the global homeless crisis. Schmalz's original sculpture is at the University of Toronto, and there are 100 replicas worldwide, including Glasgow.

One of the most colourful representations of the city's crest (the bird, the tree, the bell, the fish) is on the front of the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA). Inspired by the city's patron saint, St Mungo and his story, the mirror mosaic was designed by Niki de Saint Phalle.

While at GoMA look down. Don't miss the wise words on the stone steps by artist Lawrence Weiner. The artist from New York, helped start a new kind of art called conceptual art. He hoped the words would make people talk about the art they see in public places and how we use it.

See how many birds you can spot at the top of lampposts (there are 300 in total) whilst walking in the Garnethill area of the city. Each bird has been specially placed by Glaswegian artist Shona Kinloch.

At Rottenrow Gardens at the University of Strathclyde, you'll discover a playful sculpture by the humorous artist George Wyllie. It sits on the site of a former maternity unit where many Glaswegians were born into this world.

George Wyllie's The Clyde Clock is a play on the phrase, 'time flies'. It is positioned at Buchanan Bus Station, where many people will have run past it, late for a bus home!

Turner Prize nominee, Jim Lambie. Each line features the name and date of an act that performed at the city's legendary Barrowland Ballroom, a bit like looking through someone's record collection. Discover more about this piece and Glasgow’s music history by booking yourself onto a walking tour. Visit Glasgow music city tours for more information.

Slow Down is a permanent piece of artwork found on London Road in the city's east end. It was designed to remember the mass cycling performance that took place as part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme. This included 100 cyclists setting off with a chalk dispenser marking the road as they cycled along.

The Turner Prize winning artist Jeremy Deller has exhibited in Glasgow previously with his art installation, Sacrilege in 2012 - an inflatable, life-sized replica of Stonehenge. He returned to the city in 2019 to install Built by Immigrants in Aird's Lane. Designed in the style of a traditional British road sign, this piece of art makes a political statement.

The Cherub and Skull were created by Scottish artist Kenny Hunter who has exhibited worldwide. This is a 2-part sculpture, with one found at the front of the Tron Theatre and the other at the back. They represent life and death, and also acknowledge the building's life as a church and theatre. Hunter is also known for creating the city's Citizen Firefighter, located outside Grand Central Hotel. Learn more about the life and works of Kenny Hunter by visiting Kenny Hunter.

Scottish artist, Ian Hamilton Finlay created the Bridge Columns out of the remains of the demolished Caledonian Bridge. The two pillars have the phrase ‘All greatness stands firm in the storm' carved onto them.

Turner Prize winning artist, Douglas Gordon has taken the idea of the Empire sign from the Alfred Hitchcock film Vertigo. Here the word Empire is reversed and also readable in the stainless steel panels next to it. The artwork makes you think about what is real and is deliberately located in the Merchant City to reflect the relationship between the area's wealth and the British Empire. The sign has recently been relocated to a new location at New Wynd.

Scottish artist Doug Cocker created the Glasgow Bouquet to represent the importance of merchants and craftsmen to the city of Glasgow. Here the tools are placed in a basket, with the 10 tools representing different trades or roles. These include a builders chisel, a shoemakers knife, a tailors square, a mason’s dividers, a dyers tongs, and a baker’s peel. There’s also a ship’s mast and bobbin to represent the role of the merchants.

Scottish sculptor Kathleen Chambers created a 3D bronze map (Topographical) of Glasgow with people encouraged to touch and explore the city with their hands. The map was designed with a visually impaired audience in mind, with braille used for street names. The piece was made to celebrate the city’s status as the European City of Culture in 1990.