Key Information
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- c1980 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent
1 Item.
Content and Structure
Scope and content
Fraser Taylor student sketchbook for student project 'Torn Posters'. Collages of preparatory designs for printed textiles. Sketchbook submitted as part of portfolio to Royal College of Art. Designs in mixed media including; gouache paint, acrylic paint, pencil, pen, printing ink. crayon, spray paint and ink on a variety of medium including newsprint, watercolour paper, cardboard, acetate and tracing photocopy paper. Several pages include designs using butterfly pins, paper clips, string and luggage tags. Black bound sketchbook. 72 pages. Inside leaf with label of submission to Royal College of Art. Following pages include handwritten notes by Fraser Taylor annotating the sketches.
This item was damaged in the fire in GSA's Mackintosh Building on 23rd May 2014. Paper conservation took place in 2018.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
General Information
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born in the UK in 1960, Fraser Taylor is an interdisciplinary artist who works with a range of media including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking and animation. After receiving his bachelor of art in printed textiles from The Glasgow School of Art, Taylor went on to complete his masters in fine art at the Royal College of Art, London.
In 1983 he co-founded ‘The Cloth’, a collaborative studio established to enable artists to move freely between fine art and design projects. The Cloth designed numerous textile collections, which were manufactured in Tokyo, Milan, Paris, London, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. They also produced seasonal collections of ready to wear men’s and women’s apparel, which retailed at leading department stores in Europe, Asia and the US. The Cloth disbanded in 1988 to allow each artist to pursue individual direction.
Since 1983, Taylor has exhibited internationally; venues include: Jill George Gallery and StART Space, London; Mackintosh Museum, Glasgow; Gallery Boards, Paris; Galeria Jorge Alcolea, Madrid; Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney. From 1996 to 2001, he was the assistant curator of ‘Japanese and British Art Now’, an exchange program established to provide a curriculum of exhibitions and workshops, encouraging discourses between artists working in London and Tokyo. This enabled Taylor to participate in group and solo exhibitions, at Axis Gallery, Gallery Aoyama, Sigacho Bis and SPICA Art, in Tokyo.
Since 1983 he has lectured at fine art and design schools including Goldsmiths College University of London, Central St Martin's, The London Institute, The Royal College of Art and The Glasgow School of Art. In 1999 Taylor was invited to take part in a summer program, 'London in Chicago’ at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, which led to his appointment as Visiting Artist, in the Department of Fiber and Material Studies in 2001. Subsequently Taylor began to exhibit in the US. Venues include: Thomas McCormick Gallery, Bucket Rider Gallery, Alfedena Gallery, mn Gallery, Evanston Arts Center, Hyde Park Art Center, Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Sybaris Gallery, Linda Ross Contemporary and Aurobora Press. Taylor currently lives and works in Chicago.
Archival history
Exhibited: ‘Instant Whip: revisiting the textiles and papers of Fraser Taylor, 1977–1987’ exhibition, The Glasgow School of Art Reid Gallery and Window on Heritage, Glasgow 15 March 2024 – 20 April 2024.
Custodial history
Physical Description and Conditions of Use
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical Description
Black bound sketchbook comprising 78 leaves. Sketchbook consists of designs in mixed media including: gouache paint, acrylic paint, pencil, printing ink and crayon and wax on a variety of medium including newsprint, acetate, gum tape and tracing paper.