THE creator of The Kelpies, the 100ft tall equine sculptures in Falkirk, is to have a major gallery show for the first time - in New York.
Andy Scott, who creates monumental metal sculptures from a workshop in Glasgow, is to stage a show of small sculptures, photographs and other images, including a new depiction of the Kelpies including their bodies, next year.
For the show in the Big Apple, Scott is to create a sculpture that shows the bodies of the Kelpies that could be 'beneath the ground' at the site of the giant horse head sculptures, which are made from 300 tonnes of steel.
The show is to be staged in the building of the Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) in Soho, New York.
Scott, who studied at Glasgow School of Art and recently received an honorary doctorate from GCU, is currently working on a series of small clay maquettes for the show, which will run for two months from next June.
Scott, born in 1964, is mainly known for his large, often equine, public sculptures, including the Kelpies, which opened to the public in 2014 and have attracted more than 1m visitors.
His other notable works include Arria at Cumbernauld, the Heavy Horse on the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh, a large horse sculpture at the Trinity shopping centre in Leeds as well as the Ibrox Disaster Memorial and works in Glasgow Harbour, Belfast and Australia.
Scott, he says, has not staged a gallery show since his days at the Glasgow School of Art.
It also affords him the chance to work with much smaller sculptures than he is usually known for.
"When an opportunity like this comes along you would be foolish not to seize it with both hands," he said.
"Although right now the work is doing my head in. I am re-visiting projects I have worked on in the past, including some that were unrealised.
"The process for me now is different - I am working on intricate clay models when I am usually hitting something with a five pound hammer."
The clay sculptures will be cast in bronze for the show, which will feature between 10 and a dozen pieces.
The show will also feature the Kelpie heads and some other works that Scott has in his stores, with a larger piece for the window area facing Worcester Street in the city.
Scott added: "It is a good way to have the opportunity of re-assessing my work. So many people have asked me over the years whether I could make smaller pieces, and I have said no.
"It is also the chance to show models for projects that never saw the light of day."
Scott said he would not say no to an exhibition of his work in Scotland.
"I'd love to do that," he said.
"But Soho is still a pretty cool place to stage an exhibition.
"But there are still a lot of challenges and a lot of work to do."
GCU plans in New York have proved controversial: it has spent £5.6 million developing its campus in Manhattan, but its application for a licence to teach and award degrees has yet to be approved from New York State.
Professor James Miller, the university's deputy vice-chancellor, said he was "confident" degree-awarding status would be granted.
Professor Pamela Gillies, principal of GCU, said: "Andy Scott's sculptures are glorious, inspirational pieces of public art and engineering which make the spirits soar.
"The university is incredibly proud to number Andy among our Honorary Doctoral community and we are thrilled that GCU New York will host an exhibition of his works in summer 2016.”
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