Local artist chosen for landmark Mackintosh anniversary show
A Greenock-based photographer will exhibit in Glasgow this week as part of the year-long programme marking the 30th anniversary of the House for an Art Lover, the building designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Garth Ivan will present “In the bardo time is frozen like glass” at the House for an Art Lover’s Studio Pavilion from 23 to 28 September. The show is the first photography exhibition to be staged in the Studio Pavilion, organisers said, and forms part of the venue’s anniversary events.
Ivan, who lives in Inverclyde, said the opportunity to show in the Studio Pavilion was particularly significant. He described the space as “one of the most stunning spaces to show in the city” and said he was keen to meet a new audience and observe responses to the photographs.
“This is a very exciting show for me – not only is it my first exhibition at the venue, but it’s the first photography exhibition to be held in the Studio Pavilion – one of the most stunning spaces to show in the city. I’m looking forward to meeting a new audience and seeing reactions to my photographs.”
Ivan’s work explores themes of light, time and perception through photographic storytelling. The exhibition comprises both black-and-white and colour images that draw on influences ranging from fashion photography to mid-century painting and figurative classicism. His practice employs a variety of approaches, including in-camera effects, obscuration, fragmentation and changes in scale to present places and objects out of their original context.
Background and local connections
Although he grew up in New York and spent 15 years living in Pennsylvania, Ivan moved to Scotland six years ago following his marriage. He is now based in Inverclyde and serves as guest exhibition curator at The Beacon in Greenock, linking his practice to the local cultural scene.
Ivan studied for a Master of Fine Arts in film and photography at the Savannah College of Art and Design and has received awards for both photography and art direction. The House for an Art Lover’s Studio Pavilion exhibition gives a Greenock-area artist a visible platform in Glasgow during a milestone year for the Mackintosh-designed site.
What visitors can expect
The show’s title, which references a Tibetan Buddhist concept describing a transitional state between death and rebirth, signals the contemplative mood of the work. Audiences can expect a mixture of still life, abstraction and portraiture, with images that often remove subjects from their usual contexts to invite new readings and interpretations.
- Artist: Garth Ivan (Greenock/Inverclyde-based)
- Exhibition: In the bardo time is frozen like glass
- Venue: House for an Art Lover – Studio Pavilion, Glasgow
- Dates: 23–28 September
The exhibition sits alongside other anniversary events at the House for an Art Lover, underlining the continuing draw of Mackintosh-related heritage for Glasgow and the wider region. For Greenock residents, the show provides a chance to see a local photographer’s work presented within a national cultural context, and underlines the cross-Burgh connections between Inverclyde creatives and Glasgow venues.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Artist background | Grew up in New York; lived 15 years in Pennsylvania; moved to Scotland six years ago; MFA in film and photography |
| Local role | Guest exhibition curator at The Beacon, Greenock |
| Exhibition focus | Light, time, perception; black-and-white and colour photography; in-camera effects and abstraction |
For Greenock’s creative community, Ivan’s appearance in the Mackintosh anniversary programme represents both recognition of his practice and a reminder of the town’s active engagement with regional cultural networks. The exhibition runs for a limited period; those interested are advised to consult the House for an Art Lover’s listings for visiting information.
