Sam Ainsley

Sam Ainsley

Artist and Teacher

Sam Ainsley is an artist and teacher and until 2005 was Head of the MFA Programme at Glasgow School of Art. She has forged a remarkable career within the visual arts sector nationally internationally. From 1985 – 1991 she taught on the Environmental Art programme under David Harding’s leadership when she co-founded the

Master of Fine Art course and was programme director from its inception until 2005. She now works collaboratively with David Harding and Sandy Moffat as AHM and continues to work in her Studio.

She is a respected and published spokeswoman for the visual arts and her own artwork is in a number of public and private collections nationally and internationally. Ainsley has contributed to a broad range of visual art initiatives in Scotland and has served as a Board member on many arts organisations including The Scottish Sculpture Trust and the Arts Trust of Scotland. She was appointed to the Council of the Scottish Arts Council in 1998 and Chaired the Visual Arts Comitee at the SAC for two terms of office. Her extensive International travel and invited role as a visiting artist and curator have enhanced her informal position as an “International Ambassador” for Scottish Art and Artist.

She has exhibited in and curated independent exhibitions and undertaken residencies in numberous institutions and arts organisations across the USA, Australasia, Europe and the UK. She has been an external advisor to many MFA courses including National College of Art and Design, Dublin, Liverpool John Moores and Newcastle University and was the Visitor to the Royal Academy Schools. More recent presentations of her work include New Scots, RSA Edinburgh, 2008, Atlas of Encounters at I Space Gallery, Chicago and Athens, Live your questions now and Studio 58 Mackintosh Museum, GSA and After Growth and Form at Glasgow Print Studio.