Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA)

Overview

The Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) is Glasgow's principal contemporary art gallery, occupying a neoclassical building on Royal Exchange Square. The equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington at the entrance, perpetually adorned with a traffic cone, has become an unofficial symbol of Glasgow.

Highlights

• Rotating Exhibitions: Four floors of changing contemporary art exhibitions featuring Scottish and international artists.
• The Cone Head Duke: The Wellington statue with its traffic cone — Glasgow's most photographed landmark.
• Ground Floor Gallery: Dramatic neoclassical interiors housing large-scale installations.

History

The building was originally constructed in 1778 as a town house for tobacco lord William Cunninghame of Lainshaw. It later became the Royal Exchange and then the Stirling Library before becoming the Gallery of Modern Art in 1996.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: The library on the mezzanine level has free Wi-Fi and comfortable reading spaces.
• Tip 2: Friday late opening until 8pm is less crowded than weekends.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.