CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR EVENT

Out of Chaos: Post-War Scottish Art 1945-2000

Out of Chaos: Post-War Scottish Art 1945-2000

About Out of Chaos: Post-War Scottish Art 1945-2000

17th May 2025 to 12th Oct 2025
See event website for details
City Art Centre
2 Market Street, Edinburgh Old Town EH1 1DE
See event website for details
Visit the event website here

The post-war era was a period of seismic shifts – political and social, scientific and cultural. Emerging from the events of the Second World War, communities lived with the legacies of conflict while looking ahead to the future. Contemporary artists responded to these changing times, addressing both traditional and modern themes in their work as they pushed the boundaries of creativity. By the end of the century, the artistic landscape was entirely transformed.

Scheduled to complement John Bellany: A Life in Self-Portraiture, this survey exhibition examines the wider context of post-war Scottish art. Charting the years between the late 1940s and late 1990s, it showcases evolving approaches to figurative and landscape subjects, the growth of abstraction and pop art, and the development of new media. Out of Chaos presents a range of artworks from the City Art Centre’s permanent collection, featuring key pieces by William Johnstone, Joan Eardley, Eduardo Paolozzi, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Elizabeth Blackadder and Maud Sulter.

Sponsored Links

Fayre Play
Renfrewshire Council
St Mary's Music School
Escape The Past
Scottish Refugee Council

Other Events at City Art Centre

ArtSpace in the City Art Centre

25th February 2025 - 31st December 2025

Come and have fun in our family area in the Lower Ground Floor at the City Art Centre!

READ MORE

John Bellany: A Life in Self-Portraiture

31st May 2025 - 28th September 2025

John Bellany: A Life in Self-Portraiture captures the span of an extraordinary life and career, told through the lens of the artist’s own eyes and the words of the people who knew him best.

READ MORE

Unmasked: Exploring Scottish Portraiture

13th September 2025 - 31st May 2026

Featuring examples of painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking and photography, the exhibition at City Art Centre spans almost 400 years of artistic production.

READ MORE

Michael Fullerton

22nd November 2025 - 22nd February 2026

A major exhibition by Glasgow-born artist Michael Fullerton comes to the City Arts Centre!

READ MORE

Sponsored Links

ChangeWorks
MNB
Escape The Past
ATG
Hostelworld
Edinburgh Dungeon

Similar events you might like...

Snapshots: Gallery Short Talks

Snapshots: Gallery Short Talks

Selected dates between 13th March 2025 - 4th September 2025

Join us on Thursdays at The Palace of Holyroodhouse for a short talk on one of the fascinating photographs in our exhibition Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography!

READ MORE
The Weaving Project Exhibition

The Weaving Project Exhibition

16th June 2025 - 27th June 2025

Come along to The Weaving Project Exhibition with it's selection of Scandi handwoven rugs, cushions, scarves and more for sale, along with demonstrations of band and loom weaving.

READ MORE
Mercedes Azpilicueta: Fire on the Mountain, Light on the Hill

Mercedes Azpilicueta: Fire on the Mountain, Light on the Hill

20th June 2025 - 7th September 2025

Collective are delighted to presents the first solo exhibition in Scotland of visual and performance artist Mercedes Azpilicueta!

READ MORE
Resistance

Resistance

21st June 2025 - 4th January 2026

Resistance explores how acts of resistance have shaped life in the UK, and the powerful role of photography in documenting and driving change.

READ MORE
You Mean the World: Exhibition Launch

You Mean the World: Exhibition Launch

25th June 2025

Join us at the Royal College of Nursing on 25th June for the launch of our new exhibition about nursing in the climate crisis!

READ MORE
You Mean the World Exhibition

You Mean the World Exhibition

25th June 2025 - 18th December 2025

This exhibition explores the history of air pollution and of recycling and re-use in nursing and shows how talented nursing teams are taking climate action today.

READ MORE
Monkeys: Our Primate Family

Monkeys: Our Primate Family

28th June 2025 - 30th November 2025

See some of the rarest and most endangered primates on Earth in 'Monkeys: Our Primate Family' at the National Museum of Scotland.

READ MORE
The Scottish Colourists with The Fleming Collection

The Scottish Colourists with The Fleming Collection

29th June 2025

Meet Theo Albano, Director of the Fleming Collection, at Dovecot on Sunday 29th June, as we say farewell to the Scottish Colourists.

READ MORE
Exhibition of Artworks by Roy Middleton

Exhibition of Artworks by Roy Middleton

12th July 2025 - 17th July 2025

‘Elements Series’ is an exciting collection of artworks by Edinburgh artist Roy Middleton exploring other worlds and colour. Catch it at Whitespace from 12 July!

READ MORE

Find other events in Edinburgh

Sponsored Links

Fayre Play
Renfrewshire Council
St Mary's Music School
Escape The Past
Scottish Refugee Council
ChangeWorks
MNB
Escape The Past
ATG
Hostelworld
Edinburgh Dungeon

Popular Events

Hidden Door Festival 2025
Hidden Door is taking over The Paper Factory, the biggest venue to date, featuring five full nights of music, visual art, dance, spoken word and everything in between.
Square Cinema
Prep your picnic blankets and get ready to enjoy a FREE outdoor cinema experience from 13th - 15th June 2025, in the heart of Edinburgh City Centre.
Kiki - Pride Never Dies
KIKI is back and this time we are celebrating PRIDE. Join us on the 27th of June at Leith Arches! ️
Thunderbirds Tabletop Taster
Play through a daring rescue mission, roll the dice, make decisions and save the world at this taster session on 21st June at Ancient Robot Games! Parents can come along and grab a coffee.
How to draw your dragon
Discover a wealth of dragons from around the world in this fun family workshop at the National Library of Scotland on Saturday 19th July!

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall