Arran's character urges us to question ourselves as a species, as we ponder our escape beyond the stars.
Arran Ross, a Leith-based artist, has developed his own inimitable style over three decades of creative work. Winner of prestigious awards including the Pollock Krasner Foundation and JD Fergusson awards, Arran creates vibrant, atmospheric canvases and sculptures with a distinctive dreamlike, sci-fi aesthetic. His iconic astronaut motif has become recognized worldwide, serving as his artistic alter ego and leading viewers through journeys of inner and outer space. His work, which spans painting, sculpture, and photography, continues to be increasingly sought after by collectors both in Scotland and internationally.
The Evolution of Arran Ross
Arran's artistic journey began at Edinburgh College of Art, where he earned a First Class Honours Degree in Sculpture from 1983-1987, before completing his Masters in Public Art and Design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design. His early career featured residencies at the Glasgow Garden Festival and various locations throughout Scotland, where he helped establish the foundation for sculpture trails and public art installations. Throughout the 1990s, Arran began developing his distinctive studio practice in Edinburgh, exploring his unique vision in both two and three-dimensional forms. His talents were recognized with several prestigious awards, including the inaugural JD Fergusson Award in 1997 and the RSA Latimer Prize in 1998, which led to solo exhibitions at the Fergusson Gallery in Perth and Monaghan County Museum in Ireland.
The Astronaut's Journey
A defining moment in Arran's artistic development came after receiving a major award from The Pollock Krasner Foundation in 2000, which enabled him to exhibit in the United States. His pre-9/11 exhibition "Unknown Warriors" at the Artemisia Gallery in Chicago carried what would later be seen as a premonitory edge. Upon returning to Scotland, the sci-fi elements that had been emerging in his work began to crystallize, particularly influenced by the creative energy of Edinburgh's port district of Leith. This period saw the development of his now-famous astronaut motif, which first appeared in his work during the 1990s. This nomadic character, inspired by literary classics like Dante's Inferno and Gulliver's Travels, as well as modern influences such as Kubrick, Bowie, and Manga, explores themes of escapism and encourages viewers to question humanity's place in the universe.
Exhibitions and Recent Work
In 2016, Arran left his lecturing position at Edinburgh College of Art, where he had taught since 1999, to concentrate fully on his artistic practice.