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Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), in Royal Exchange Square facing onto Queen Street. By Danny Hearn –

Top 10 Unbelievable Facts about the Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow

The Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art, or GoMA, as you may call it, is the perfect destination for an art-inspired day. Located at the heart of Glasgow, in a neoclassical building, GoMA presents all its visitors with the chance to live, taste, and learn about art.

If you google through the perfect destinations to tour in Scotland, you have probably come across the gallery.

At the Gallery of Modern Arts, you can exchange powerful ideas with the brilliant minds that visit. It is not only full of life and vibrancy, but the Gallery of Modern Arts in Glasgow is the best place to experience the perspective of others on human experiences.

Not many people know many facts about the gallery, but today, you will learn 10 unbelievable facts about the Gallery of Modern Arts.

1. The gallery was once a townhouse

Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow By Brainiac Blink –

The building where the Gallery of Modern Arts sits has a long history at the heart of Scotland’s business and commercial exchange. Back in the day, the building was just a residential home.

Over the years, under different people’s ownership, the design has changed and become more magnificent with each generation. In 1817, the Royal Bank of Scotland bought the property for its banking activities. However, the bank moved to Buchanan Street before becoming the Royal Exchange.

Later in 1827, David Hamilton, a Scottish architect, took his skills to the ground, building the now-famous Corinthian Pillars surrounding the Gallery of Modern Arts. He also added the Queen Street façade, the large hall at the back of the gallery, and some cupolas.

In 1954, the building also served as the home to the Glasgow district library before it moved to Stirling’s Library building. It later shifted back to Miller Street, which marked the onset of a serious refurbishment, which created the Gallery of Modern Arts that you know and love today.

2. The infamous traffic cones outside the gallery

When you browse through the multitude of photos taken at the Gallery of Modern Arts, you will notice one tiny detail out of the ordinary. This will have to be a traffic cone that usually appears on the head of the Duke of Wellington.

The local authorities have tried to remove the traffic cone from the statue for many years, but their efforts have been futile. When they remove one, another one comes up. To tourists today, the traffic cone now represents the light-hearted attitude of the people of Scotland to the authorities.

Over the years, the cone has become many things. It is like art, representing contemporary issues. For instance, during the 2002 UEFA Champion League, the typically amber and white cone became black and white to represent the patterns seen on a football.

When citizens opened in Glasgow, June’s traffic cone changed for a ‘feel free’ glitter cone. During the 2012 Olympics, the Scotland team contributed a good number of gold medals to the GB team. For this, the cone was gold. Moreover, during the ‘Brexit Day’ in 2020, the infamous traffic cone had the EU flag colors painted on it.

Unbelievably, the cone is not the property of the gallery. It may go hand-in-hand with all the prevailing celebrations, but the traffic cone on the Duke of Wellington is the work of playful strangers.

3. The original owner of the building was a tobacco merchant

In 1778, William Cunningham built his townhouse as a neoclassical building at the heart of Royal Exchange square. The man, a wealthy tobacco lord at the time, had gained most of his wealth from participating in the Triangular Slave Trade.

The man-made a lot of fortune from stockpiling the tobacco from American slave plantations on its way to France. At the onset of the American War of Independence, Cunningham’s company had a massive tobacco stock.

During the war, the Tobacco supply from America’s slave plantations to France diminished, meaning the prices increased. By selling his tobacco to them, Cunningham made a fortune.

4. A visit to the gallery is free

Unlike what you may think, a visit to the Gallery of Modern Arts is free. During their opening hours, you can walk in there and spend time reading, admiring art, or drawing.

However, some premium exhibitions require you to pay a small fee. Usually, the money is for supporting the artist and limiting traffic. Otherwise, you may have to book your visit before arriving, a crucial step in helping the gallery manage the number of people in their halls and reduce queue times.

5. The Gallery of Modern Art has 4 galleries

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow, Scotland By Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin –

The name Gallery of Modern Arts can be misleading. You may think that the gallery has only one, while in real life, there are 4 galleries in the GoMA. These galleries highlight art that addresses contemporary social issues.

Each of these galleries hosts an exhibition with paintings and art from local and international artists.

6. The gallery has family sessions

Are you looking for a creative family activity? You can try the Gallery of Modern Arts family sessions. The package comes with art lessons for adults, youth, middle schoolers, and toddlers.

You can sign up for regular classes or workshops with your family or yourself. In short, the Gallery of Modern Arts is the perfect place to unleash your inner creativity while enjoying beautiful art pieces and all the resources you can get from the library.

7. It is the most visited gallery in Scotland

The Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow By Brainiac Blink –

Despite not being the largest gallery in Scotland, the Gallery of Modern Arts is the most visited gallery in the country. It features the most extensive collection of Scotland’s modern artwork, including temporary and permanent exhibitions.

Also, since the gallery is at the heart of the city center, it attracts many visitors, both local and foreign. It is arguably the grandest building, with its pillars and statue.

In addition, some of the art pieces found in the Gallery of Modern Arts are some of the most expensive works of art in Scotland. 

8. The gallery has a library

What could possibly beat reading in an environment surrounded by art and tranquility? If you think of it, the Gallery of Modern Arts will be a pleasant surprise.

Since the Glasgow district library moved back to Miller Street, it underwent modifications and upgrades, making it the new Gallery of Modern Arts that you know. The library contains art books, free internet connections, and the grand opportunity to learn something new about art while brushing up on your skills.

9. It is one of the few galleries with an outreach program

Galleries play a massive role in the life of artists. In return, some galleries take it upon themselves to reach out to their community members and help them develop their skills.

Gallery of Modern Arts is one of those rare galleries that offer an opportunity to the youth in Scotland to learn and advance their art skills. After developing their art, these new artists get the chance to show their work on the balcony galleries at the Gallery of Modern Arts.

Usually, these pieces are contributions made by community groups and artists who have benefited from the gallery in one way or another.

10. The gallery is basically a school of art

Patterns (2003) in the Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow By Jean-Pierre Dalbéra –

Unlike most world-renowned galleries globally, with expensive exhibitions and tightly guarded rooms, the Gallery of Modern Arts offers a complete learning experience for the whole family.

At the gallery, children, including toddlers, all the way to college students get the chance to learn from the most experienced art teachers in town. Once a month, on a Sunday, adults have the opportunity to open their creative minds and learn a thing or two about art.

On Tuesdays, you can make art with your baby. It could be something as simple as a foot imprint on a painting. However, you need to make a booking for your baby art session with your young one.