Alasdair Gray

Transport bosses have approved plans for a £23,000 contract for a mural by Alasdair Gray to be installed inside a subway station.

 

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport agreed the artist’s commission to create the piece of public art for Hillhead station in the west end of Glasgow.

The large mural, which will cover the entire back wall of the station, is part of a modernisation plan for the transport hub, which is the third busiest on Glasgow’s subway network.

SPT’s vice chairman David Fagan said: “Alasdair Gray’s work in and around Glasgow is instantly recognisable. He has a strong association with the west end of Glasgow and with Hillhead in particular. We are delighted that he is bringing his considerable talents to the modernisation of Glasgow’s subway.

“SPT is embarking on a grand modernisation project and Hillhead will become the standard-bearer for all other stations on our network.

“To have such a large-scale piece of public art by such an important international artist shows just how high we are aiming in improving the look and feel of stations for our passengers, and I’m looking forward to seeing the finished piece in place.”

Gray, the author of Lanark, who also created the ceiling mural at the Oran Mor venue on Byres Road, was first linked to the project in October last year.

SPT said the completed artwork would be “instantly recognisable” to passengers as they enter the station.