This week's object of the week is a small collection of artworks by John Inglis, created in 2010. Broken Gates, Deerness by John Inglis, 2010 These artworks are part of the 'Orkney Postcard' series, group of twenty small compositions. Jetty by John Inglis, 2010 These paintings, developed from drawings made around Deerness, Orkney, were created to be part of an shared exhibition with artist Ian McKenzie Smith.

Sam Tarvit received a Highly Commended Purchase Award for their jewellery collection, titled 'Arbores Loqui Latine'. A set of earrings and a broach was selected by the artist to be added to the collection, along with one of the custom made stands for display. Sam Tarvit is a jewellery designer whose work is rooted in nature and inspired by storytelling, allowing people to carry a piece of the natural world with them.

This weeks Object of the Week is Running Man by Ian Gildea. This artwork consists of a plinth with a revolving LCD screen displaying moving images. Gildea received an Art and Heritage Purchase Award for his show in 2007 Running Man, Ian Gildea, 2007 Artist's statement:"'Running Man' was the culmination of my interest in obsolete technology being repurposed and my research into the pioneers of the moving image.

This week's object of the week is an untitled embroidery piece by Rebecca Crompton. The piece is white darning on net, depicting a tennis figure motif, created in 1934. Untitled Embroidery, Rebecca Crompton. White darning on net with tennis figure motif, 1934. Rebecca Crompton (1895-1947) changed the direction and development of embroidery designs during the 1930’s. Previously the emphasis had been on technique with little attention paid to design.

Hannah Reid's presented a vibrant and cohesive fashion collection titled 'The Jig Is Up', founded in the ideals of wearability and sustainability and inspired by Irish dance attire. She received a highly commended Purchase Award and two of her garments have been added to the collection. Hannah Reid, Gray's School Of Art Degree Show, 2025 Artist's statement:A playground of mix-match madness, featuring staples, statements and interchangeable design elements.

This week's object of the week is 'Constructed', by Rachel Mack, who received a purchase award in 2015. Constructed, Rachel Mack, 2015 Artist's statement:'Constructed’ celebrates the wealth of visual and tactile elements found on a building site. Through photographic documentation, I have allowed these visuals to influence my choice in yarn and material. In addition, construction methods and processes have inspired the surface applications and techniques which I have used.

Claire Carey received a Highly Commended Purchase Award for her degree show video installation. The show consisted of three videos projected onto different walls in a darkened room, each depicting the artist forcing herself to remain in uncomfortable and distressing situations. Copies of her video installations have been added to the museum collection.

Innes Gregory's degree show was eye catching and deeply rooted in an Aberdeen community's connection with Denis Law. He received a Highly Commended Purchase Award and several parts of his show have been added to the museum collection, including a copy of his book and time-lapse video. Innes Gregory, Gray's School of Art Degree Show, 2025 "Innes' Honours Degree project, The Printed Ten: Denis Law Walking Trail, is a public art initiative celebrating iconic Scottish footballer Denis Law.

This week's object of the week is Reflections Padua by Barbara Balmer, created using oil paint on Finnish birch, c. 1995. Reflections Padua, Barbara Balmer, c.1995 In the 1960s and 70s, Barbara Balmer held a post as a design drawing tutor at Gray's School of Art. The artist came to Aberdeen with her husband, George Mackie, who led the Design Department at Gray's School of Art from the 1950s until 1980.

Matthew Urquhart's degree show was an array of models in all different sizes and ranging from detailed and realistic to whimsical representations. He received a Highly Commended Purchase Award and one of his models has been added to the museum collection. Matthew Urquhart, Gray's School of Art Degree Show, 2025 Artist's statement:My work is influenced by my love for set design and the relationships we create with everyday spaces.

This week's object of the week is a computer created by Lear Siegler Inc c. 1970. This model was released in 1976 as an expended version of the ADM-3 terminal that added support for direct cursor addressing codes, a method of positioning the cursor on you screen.

Anna Swapp's degree show was a series of small, deeply thought provoking paintings of domestics spaces. She received a Highly Commended Art and Heritage Purchase Award and two of her paintings have been added to the museum collection. Anna Swapp, Gray's School of Art degree show, 2025 Artist's statement:My practice explore the themes of isolation and solitude. Working in primarily oil, I paint spaces/environments that interpret a story.

This week's object of the week is an untitled interactive sculpture by George Gillies. The sculpture is comprised of bicycle parts, an office chair, a stool, a corrugated iron arch and a television, all salvaged parts and materials. To fully experience the artwork, the viewer has to participate by sitting in the office chair and pushing the peddles - this will provide energy that powers the television.

We'd like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all of this year's purchase award winners! Each year, Robert Gordon University awards a series of purchase awards to successful students who study courses offered by both Gray’s School of Art and the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment. Works by these students are retained in the museum collection for future study and display.

Untitled, Wilma Dunbar, 1992 This weeks object of the week is a collection of paintings by Wilma Dunbar, a Scottish Postwar & Contemporary artist who was born in 1946. Untitled, Wilma Dunbar, 1993 Dunbar graduated from Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen, and the recieved an RSA John Kinross Travel scholarship in 1992 Untitled, Wilma Dunbar, 1992 She has exhibited widely throughout Scotland and eleven of her paintings are held in Scottish public collections - the four pictured here are all part of our collection at RGU Art and Heritage.

This year marks 140 years of Gray's School of Art. Keep a look out later this year for an exhibition at Aberdeen Art Gallery that celebrates this huge anniversary. Gray's School of Art, Garthdee (current) campus, c. 1980 But an anniversary is more than an exhibition—it is an opportunity for conversation. Gray’s is not just a building or a curriculum; it is a constellation of voices, experiences, and ideas and we want to hear from you!

This week's object of the week is a collection of X-Ray focus tubes, most of them made by Cuthbert Andrews, who were the sole British maker of x-ray tubes during the 1930's. Unlike later X-ray tubes, this one has no heated filament. Instead, an electrical discharge was started in the gas inside the tube, causing electrons to be emitted. These electrons create an energy reaction the led to the release of X-rays, which then pass through the glass.

This week's object of the week is a pair of semi-abstract watercolour paintings, created c.1980 by Gordon Bryce RSA. They are titled 'Riverbed' and 'Edge of the Wood, Easter Ord'. Riverbed, Gordon Bryce, C. 1980 "Gordon Bryce RSA exhibits regularly across the United Kingdom, his work focusing on still life and landscape subjects, the latter typically of Aberdeenshire and the west coast of Scotland.

This week's object of the week is a collection of textiles and development materials created by Lee Borthwick. These pieces were created as part of the artists degree show in 2006 and received a purchase award prize from RGU Art and Heritage. Textile, Lee Borthwick, 2006 Artist's statement:I was profoundly inspired by the country of Finland. From the land to the architecture, collapsed cabins in the forests, endless rows of birch trees against a piercing blue sky to the sound philosophies of the people, Finland found a way under my skin.

This week's object of the week is a crystal model. This is one of several such models in the collection, produced by the Dr. F. Krantz Company of Bonn, Germany, c. 1905. This one is labelled "Crystal Model no. 4 Cubic". A crystal model is a teaching aid used for understanding concepts in the study of how crystals form. Models are used to demonstrate and help students to learn to recognise symmetry elements in crystals.