His works are held in major art collections all over the world. She is one of the next generation of young Scottish fashion designers.
The works of Adrian Wiszniewski and his niece Zoe Wiszniewski will come together at an exciting collaboration in the West End.
The exhibition at By Distinction Art Gallery on Byres Road opens on Saturday August 13.
International: Adrian's works are held in collections all over the world.
For Adrian, the exhibition - featuring a selection of highly collectable artworks - will be the first solo show for the artist in Glasgow’s West End.
For fashion designer Zoe, the show will be the first time her award-winning designs will have been seen in a gallery setting.
Adrian has been a leading figure in Scottish painting for many years.
He studied architecture and painting at the Glasgow School of Art (1979–83) and held his first solo exhibitions in Glasgow and London in 1984.
His paintings, often colourful and large-scale, are populated with contemplative figures set in vividly coloured Arcadian landscapes. His work lies within the poetic, romantic tradition of British art.
Expression: Zoe's designs, she says, are visual stories.
Adrian said: “Having studied in Glasgow and worked as an artist for over 30 years living in or near the city, it is hard to believe I have never had a solo show in the West end.
“The works in this exhibition are mostly figurative and are inspired by a diverse range of subjects such as equality for women, rare egg collecting and oology, and the concept of time.
"One painting comments on the art world itself and serves as a warning to avant-garde artists who find themselves in the precarious position of becoming accepted by the establishment.”
Robert Burns inspires two of the artworks on show. Highland Mary-Nights of Despair, captures the controversial love life of Burn’s and his affair with Mary Campbell, to whom he dedicated the poems including ‘The Highland Lassie O’, and ‘Highland Mary’.
The second, Tam O’Shanter, depicts the character from the nation's favourite Burns narrative poem.
Space: The exhibition is at By Distinction on Byres Road.
A variety of media has been employed to create the artworks including oil painting and coloured pencil on paper; there is also rug designed by the artist.
A densely worked 2-metre high biro drawing took over a month to complete.
Bruce Finnie, the owner of By Distinction Art Gallery, said: “We are thrilled to work with Adrian and provide the venue for his first exhibition in the West end of Glasgow.
“In the three short years since opening our gallery on Byres Road, we have had the opportunity to show work by some of Scotland’s best artists.
"Hosting exhibitions by revered artists like Adrian is a real vote of confidence for us. We hope the public will enjoy visiting the gallery and viewing the artworks.
Family: Adrian and Zoe's collaboration will bring together different media in one space. Photo: Martin Shields.
“I remember Adrian as one of my father, Bob Finnie’s, students at Glasgow School of Art. I would never have thought then we would be hosting an exhibition of his work in our gallery now.
"We are also delighted to introduce Zoe's designs to our visitors. Being the first gallery to showcase this creative collaboration between uncle and niece is a real privilege."
A contemporary of Peter Howson, Ken Currie and Steven Campbell, Adrian was a leading figure in the revival of figurative painting in a group known as the New Glasgow Boys.
The group shot to prominence in the mid-1980s with huge, exuberant figure paintings as redolent of fantasy and myth as they were attuned to the workings of contemporary thought and everyday life.
Inspired: Zoe says the print work in her designs are a nod to her uncle's paintings.
Adrian’s artworks are held in renowned international collections including the Gallery of Modern Art in New York, Metropolitan Museum, New York, Setagaya Museum, Tokyo, Japan, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh, Tate Britain and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The artist brings the same creative energy of his paintings to printmaking, sculpture, installations, furniture and interior design and writing, regarding the exploration of new media as a central part of the art of communicating fresh ideas.
A new project for Adrian is working with his niece award-winning fashion designer Zoe Wiszniewska.
The exhibition will showcase a selection of designs from Zoe's contemporary collection.
The garments feature illusory scenes adapted from her uncle’s painting, Omega Man, which is also included in the exhibition.
Zoe Wiszniewska said: “My designs are composed of visual stories that reflect my life and observations.
"Having grown up with Adrian’s work, taking inspiration from his artwork for this project was an obvious choice for me, particularly since I like to reference other artistic disciplines within my designs.
"I am pleased that the painting at features in my designs will be on display.
Career: Zoe recently graduated from Heriot-Watt University.
“Throughout my Paradise Lost collection, the application of print is integral to the overall design and creates a visual and thematic continuity between the three stages of Adam and Eve’s Paradise Lost.
"The print application is taken directly from Adrian’s artwork.”
Recently graduated from Heriot-Watt University and specialising in both Menswear and Womenswear, Zoe has already been nominated for the prestigious Karen Millen Portfolio Award and has been awarded The Watt Club Medal for exceptional distinction in her final honours year.
Based in the heart of Glasgow's West End, By Distinction Art Gallery specialises in contemporary Scottish art, unique contemporary jewellery.
* Photographs: Martin Shields.
