Artist Talk with Toby Paterson RSA

Toby Paterson RSA is a renowned and award winning Scottish visual artist, whose work deeply considers the experiences of place and architecture.Paterson’s painting always begins from a subjective experience of place, building on formal aspects such as colour and materiality onwards through spatial qualities and into the objective socio-political and historical considerations that haunt all cities. His aim is to communicate the everyday fascination that lies around every corner, offering the chance for singular perspectives within the complex, collective realities we inhabit.The forms and ideas inherent in architecture inspire Paterson’s work, as does the experience of place.

He has a particular interest in the post-war reinvention of cities under the influence of Modernism and is intrigued by what the cultural outcome of that influence has been. Living and working in Glasgow, a city at the heart of the British experience of this phenomenon, his continuing engagement with such a perpetually changing context has informed his consideration of the spaces we inhabit.

Toby is well represented in the University's Collection and in 2022 was commissioned to create two site specific works 'The Open Grid: Landscapes' and 'The Open Grid: Sunsets' for the Pathfoot Building.Toby will lead an informal talk about his practice, before we take a walk around the Pathfoot Building to view his works.This talk is hosted by the Art Collection and the Centre for the Sciences of Place and Memory. It is open to staff, students and the public and will take place online and in person.

About the Sciences of Place and Memory

Established in late 2024, the Centre for the Sciences of Place and Memory is funded by a £4M award from the Leverhulme Trust over five years. Led by Professor John Sutton and Deputy Director Professor Paula Reavey, the Centre is a dynamic, collaborative, interdisciplinary research project advancing knowledge in relations between place and memory.

About the University of Stirling Art Collection

The University Art Collection is a collection of Scottish contemporary art housed primarily in the Pathfoot Building. We aim to make art and culture a part of daily life for students, staff and visitors through exhibitions, events and workshops.

This is a hybrid event and participants are welcome to join us in person, in the Pathfoot Building or online. Please select the right ticket option for what you require.

The walkaround section of the talk will not be broadcast online.