Jenny Brownrigg is a curator and writer. She is Exhibitions Director (2009-) and a researcher at The Glasgow School of Art.
Her enduring research question is: What new knowledge can curatorial methodology and exhibition-making as a research tool bring to understanding the overlooked practices of 20th Century women photographers in Scotland? In 2017 she curated ‘Observing Women at Work’, (in partnership with Napier University and St Andrews Special Collections), presenting a selection of photographs and material by social documentary photographer Franki Raffles [1955-94]. Brownrigg’s current research is a survey of early 20th Century women photographers and film-makers in Scotland, including the work of Helen Biggar, MEM Donaldson, Jenny Gilbertson, Ruby Grierson, Marion Grierson and Margaret Fay Shaw. A major exhibition output is 'Glean: early 20th century women filmmakers and photographers in Scotland', first floor exhibition at City Art Centre, Edinburgh (12 Nov 2022-12 March 2023). This survey exhibition draws from 17 archives, mostly across Scotland, and features the work of 14 women photographers and filmmakers.
Brownrigg’s research has been published in Studies in Photography, ‘Ways of Seeing: Women and Photography in Scotland’ (Spring, 2021, National Trust for Scotland). Other writing on women artists in Scotland includes, 'Bet Low: An Active Career', was published in Visual Culture in Britain Volume 21, 2020 - Issue 1: Women Painting: Scottish Art 1940-1980 (eds. Thompson, S & Greated, M).
Brownrigg is a current board member of Pier Arts Centre, Orkney and Glasgow Sculpture Studios.
Brownrigg’s other research interests include: curating archives and collections in a heritage context; commissioning, residencies, public art, art writing, critical writing, feminist art and feminist curatorial strategies.
She is part of the following research groups at The Glasgow School of Art: ‘Curatorial Practice as Research’ and ‘Reading Landscape’.
Her work can be viewed www.jennybrownrigg.com
