John Bellany: A Life in Self-Portraiture
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.
About John Bellany: A Life in Self-Portraiture
| 31st May 2025 to 28th Sep 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 | |
John Bellany was one of the most significant Scottish painters of the modern era. A Life in Self-Portraiture brings together over 80 autobiographical drawings, paintings, prints and sketchbooks, spanning from the early 1960s until the artist’s death in 2013.
John Bellany was one of the most prolific self-portraitists in history, obsessively documenting his own image throughout his lifetime. This exhibition captures the wide range of works created across different mediums, from carefully observed student studies, to his epic pictorial narratives where he disguised himself in different roles and fantastical characters. The exhibition contains works on loan from public and private collections across the country, including the artist’s estate, many of which have never been seen publicly before.
An accompanying publication includes a foreword by Helen Bellany, plus an essay and interview from exhibition curators’ Bill Hare and Sandy Moffat. Moffat’s account charts his long-term friendship and collaboration with Bellany.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!Sponsored Links
Other Events at City Art Centre
ArtSpace in the City Art Centre
Come and have fun in our family area in the Lower Ground Floor at the City Art Centre!
READ MORE
Unmasked: Exploring Scottish Portraiture
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
A major exhibition by Glasgow-born artist Michael Fullerton comes to the City Arts Centre!
READ MORESponsored Links
Similar events you might like...
Snapshots: Gallery Short Talks
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
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
Collective are delighted to presents the first solo exhibition in Scotland of visual and performance artist Mercedes Azpilicueta!
READ MORE
Resistance
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
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
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
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
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
‘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 MOREFind other events in Edinburgh
Sponsored Links