Murray Grigor
Encyclopedia
Murray Grigor is a Scottish film maker, writer and exhibition curator. He has made over 50 films with a focus on arts and architecture documentaries.
, and graduated from St. Andrews University. He started his career at the BBC
which he left in 1967 to become director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival
. He married, in 1968, Barbara Grigor, neé Sternschein, a film maker and exhibition curator, with whom he had two daughters, Sarah, b 1970 and Phoebe, b 1972
. With photography by Eddie McConnell and Oscar Marzaroli, a haunting score by Frank Spedding and Bill Forsyth as editor. The film won five international awards and together with the Edinburgh Festival touring exhibition, curated by Andrew McLaren Young, did much to re-establish the reputation of the now renowned architect.
During the 1970s, Grigor wrote and directed several sponsored documentaries for Films of Scotland, most notably "Travelpass" with John Bett and Alex Norton, "Suilven Spring" with Bill Patterson and "Clydescope" on the tourist attractions around the River Clyde with Billy Connolly and innovative animations devised by his friend the artist John Byrne and brought to the screen by Donald Holwill. Connolly's original songs were augmented by the 'compleat musician' Ron Geesin and the great Irish actor Micheal Mac Liammoir read the picaresque send-up narration. This production with his partner Patrick Higson and the cameraman David Peat was such a fun experience that Grigor persuaded Billy Connolly to put up the money for a weekend foray to Ireland which resulted in "Big Banana Feet', inspired by "Don't Look Back - D.A. Pennebaker's film of Bob Dylan's UK tour.
Already during the 1970s, Grigor made arts and architecture as a focus of his filmmaking. He has made documentaries about many renowned American, British and Italian architects, including Robert Adam
, John Lautner, Carlo Scarpa
, Sir John Soane, Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects
, Alexander "Greek" Thomson
, and Frank Lloyd Wright
. Grigor's documentaries on artists include "BLAST" on the Vorticists, 'E.P. Sculptor" on Eduardo Paolozzi in association with the Edinburgh Festival 1984 exhibition initiated by Barabra Grigor. "The Why?sman" brought together George Wyllie's play, "Day Down a Goldmine" with Bill Patterson and freely explored Glasgow's most popular artist, the creator of the much loved 'Straw Locomotive', and the "Paper Boat" - great public art inspired by his friend Joseph Beuys.
Grigor also worked on, and curated, art exhibitions. In 1976, for the opening exhibition of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, titled Man TransForms. For this Grigor was invited by the Austrian architect and designer Hans Hollein
to direct film loops on aspects of design. He was awarded a US/UK Bicentennial Fellowship to research and write a feature length documentary film on Frank Lloyd Wright, which he finally made with David Peat as cameraman in 1981, with the architect's granddaughter providing the narration. "The Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright" received many awards including a 'Citation by the American Institute of Architects,' the first ever to have been awarded to a film-maker. In 1981, Murray Grigor, together with his wife Barbara, curated the provocative touring exhibition Scotch Myths questioning a Scotland portrayed by kitsch and stereotypes of fatigued romanticism. A documentary about this exhibition followed in 1982 for the opening of Channel 4
, a British television channel. In 2008, Grigor produced seven film loops for the exhibition Between Earth and Heaven about the architecture of John Lautner, which coincided with the premiere of his documentary Infinite Space on the same subject.
Since the 1980s, Grigor widened his film focus to cover more international, and particularly American subjects, such as the 1986 landmark 8 part series Pride of Place with Robert A. M Stern for the American television channel PBS. In 1997, he directed the PBS series "The Face of Russia" with James Billington, the Librarian of Congress. "Contemporary Days" on the iBritish designers Robin and Lucienne Day for Design Onscreen of Denver Colorado, was premiered at the Glasgow Film Festival in February 2011.
Grigor also worked as film producer and writer. Together with his wife, he founded, in 1981, the film company Viz Ltd based in Inverkeiting, Scotland. Grigor has also written screenplays for some of his films, and exhibition catalogues to accompany some of his exhibitions. He was co-author of "The Architects' Architect on.C.R Mackintosh with Richard Murphy and 'Sean Connery - Being a Scot" with Sir Sean Connery, published in 2008 and which is now published in 7 languages. .
from 1967 to 1972, and its chairman from 1985 to 1990. He was director of Channel 4
, a British TV channel, from 1995 to 1999. He was appointed, in 2007, as a member of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission
.
Grigor is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and was the first film maker to be made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
and the Royal Institute of British Architects
. Grigor is Visiting Professor of Film Studies at the Anglia Ruskin University
, from which he received, in 2010, an Honorary Doctor of Arts.
Grigor was the first recipient of the Royal Television Society Reith Award. He has received a Citation of Excellence from the American Institute of Architects
for his film Portrait of an Artist: the Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. His film E. P. Sculptor on the artist Eduardo Paolozzi
won the Rodin Prize at the 1992 Paris Biennale. The film Nineveh on the Clyde on the architecture of Glasgow architect Alexander "Greek" Thomson
won awards at Montréal
and from Europa Nostra
at Toblach, Italy.
Early life
Grigor was born in 1939 in InvernessInverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
, and graduated from St. Andrews University. He started his career at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
which he left in 1967 to become director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival
Edinburgh International Film Festival
The Edinburgh International Film Festival is an annual fortnight of cinema screenings and related events taking place each June. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival...
. He married, in 1968, Barbara Grigor, neé Sternschein, a film maker and exhibition curator, with whom he had two daughters, Sarah, b 1970 and Phoebe, b 1972
Career
Grigor made first film, the documentary Mackintosh, in 1968, about the then neglected Scottish architect Charles Rennie MackintoshCharles Rennie Mackintosh
Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a Scottish architect, designer, watercolourist and artist. He was a designer in the Arts and Crafts movement and also the main representative of Art Nouveau in the United Kingdom. He had a considerable influence on European design...
. With photography by Eddie McConnell and Oscar Marzaroli, a haunting score by Frank Spedding and Bill Forsyth as editor. The film won five international awards and together with the Edinburgh Festival touring exhibition, curated by Andrew McLaren Young, did much to re-establish the reputation of the now renowned architect.
During the 1970s, Grigor wrote and directed several sponsored documentaries for Films of Scotland, most notably "Travelpass" with John Bett and Alex Norton, "Suilven Spring" with Bill Patterson and "Clydescope" on the tourist attractions around the River Clyde with Billy Connolly and innovative animations devised by his friend the artist John Byrne and brought to the screen by Donald Holwill. Connolly's original songs were augmented by the 'compleat musician' Ron Geesin and the great Irish actor Micheal Mac Liammoir read the picaresque send-up narration. This production with his partner Patrick Higson and the cameraman David Peat was such a fun experience that Grigor persuaded Billy Connolly to put up the money for a weekend foray to Ireland which resulted in "Big Banana Feet', inspired by "Don't Look Back - D.A. Pennebaker's film of Bob Dylan's UK tour.
Already during the 1970s, Grigor made arts and architecture as a focus of his filmmaking. He has made documentaries about many renowned American, British and Italian architects, including Robert Adam
Robert Adam
Robert Adam was a Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam , Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him...
, John Lautner, Carlo Scarpa
Carlo Scarpa
Carlo Scarpa , was an Italian architect, influenced by the materials, landscape, and the history of Venetian culture, and Japan. Scarpa was also a glass and furniture designer of note....
, Sir John Soane, Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects
Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects
Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects LLC is a New York City-based architectural firm founded in 1967 by architects Charles Gwathmey and Robert Siegel. The firm's work ranges from art and educational facilities and major corporate buildings to furniture systems and decorative art objects...
, Alexander "Greek" Thomson
Alexander Thomson
Alexander "Greek" Thomson was an eminent Scottish architect and architectural theorist who was a pioneer in sustainable building. Although his work was published in the architectural press of his day, it was little appreciated outwith Glasgow during his lifetime...
, and Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
. Grigor's documentaries on artists include "BLAST" on the Vorticists, 'E.P. Sculptor" on Eduardo Paolozzi in association with the Edinburgh Festival 1984 exhibition initiated by Barabra Grigor. "The Why?sman" brought together George Wyllie's play, "Day Down a Goldmine" with Bill Patterson and freely explored Glasgow's most popular artist, the creator of the much loved 'Straw Locomotive', and the "Paper Boat" - great public art inspired by his friend Joseph Beuys.
Grigor also worked on, and curated, art exhibitions. In 1976, for the opening exhibition of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, titled Man TransForms. For this Grigor was invited by the Austrian architect and designer Hans Hollein
Hans Hollein
Hans Hollein, is an Austrian architect and designer.Hollein achieved a diploma at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna in 1956, then attended the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1959 and the University of California, Berkeley in 1960...
to direct film loops on aspects of design. He was awarded a US/UK Bicentennial Fellowship to research and write a feature length documentary film on Frank Lloyd Wright, which he finally made with David Peat as cameraman in 1981, with the architect's granddaughter providing the narration. "The Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright" received many awards including a 'Citation by the American Institute of Architects,' the first ever to have been awarded to a film-maker. In 1981, Murray Grigor, together with his wife Barbara, curated the provocative touring exhibition Scotch Myths questioning a Scotland portrayed by kitsch and stereotypes of fatigued romanticism. A documentary about this exhibition followed in 1982 for the opening of Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, a British television channel. In 2008, Grigor produced seven film loops for the exhibition Between Earth and Heaven about the architecture of John Lautner, which coincided with the premiere of his documentary Infinite Space on the same subject.
Since the 1980s, Grigor widened his film focus to cover more international, and particularly American subjects, such as the 1986 landmark 8 part series Pride of Place with Robert A. M Stern for the American television channel PBS. In 1997, he directed the PBS series "The Face of Russia" with James Billington, the Librarian of Congress. "Contemporary Days" on the iBritish designers Robin and Lucienne Day for Design Onscreen of Denver Colorado, was premiered at the Glasgow Film Festival in February 2011.
Grigor also worked as film producer and writer. Together with his wife, he founded, in 1981, the film company Viz Ltd based in Inverkeiting, Scotland. Grigor has also written screenplays for some of his films, and exhibition catalogues to accompany some of his exhibitions. He was co-author of "The Architects' Architect on.C.R Mackintosh with Richard Murphy and 'Sean Connery - Being a Scot" with Sir Sean Connery, published in 2008 and which is now published in 7 languages. .
Appointments and awards
Grigor was director of the Edinburgh International Film FestivalEdinburgh International Film Festival
The Edinburgh International Film Festival is an annual fortnight of cinema screenings and related events taking place each June. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival...
from 1967 to 1972, and its chairman from 1985 to 1990. He was director of Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, a British TV channel, from 1995 to 1999. He was appointed, in 2007, as a member of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission
Scottish Broadcasting Commission
The Scottish Broadcasting Commission was established by the Scottish Government in August 2007. Its purpose is to conduct an independent investigation into television production and broadcasting in Scotland, and to define a strategic way forward for the industry...
.
Grigor is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and was the first film maker to be made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland is the professional body for architects in Scotland. It was founded in 1916 by Robert Rowand Anderson who donated his Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh to be used as its home, where it remains to this day. It was given its first Royal charter in...
and the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
. Grigor is Visiting Professor of Film Studies at the Anglia Ruskin University
Anglia Ruskin University
Anglia Ruskin University is one of the largest universities in Eastern England, United Kingdom, with a total student population of around 30,000.-History:...
, from which he received, in 2010, an Honorary Doctor of Arts.
Grigor was the first recipient of the Royal Television Society Reith Award. He has received a Citation of Excellence from the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
for his film Portrait of an Artist: the Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. His film E. P. Sculptor on the artist Eduardo Paolozzi
Eduardo Paolozzi
Sir Eduardo Luigi Paolozzi, KBE, RA , was a Scottish sculptor and artist. He was a major figure in the international art sphere, while, working on his own interpretation and vision of the world. Paolozzi investigated how we can fit into the modern world to resemble our fragmented civilization...
won the Rodin Prize at the 1992 Paris Biennale. The film Nineveh on the Clyde on the architecture of Glasgow architect Alexander "Greek" Thomson
Alexander Thomson
Alexander "Greek" Thomson was an eminent Scottish architect and architectural theorist who was a pioneer in sustainable building. Although his work was published in the architectural press of his day, it was little appreciated outwith Glasgow during his lifetime...
won awards at Montréal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and from Europa Nostra
Europa Nostra
Europa Nostra, the pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage, is the representative platform of 250 heritage NGOs active in 45 countries across Europe...
at Toblach, Italy.
Filmography
Grigor has directed the following films.| Year | Title | Summary |
| n.d. | A sport for all seasons | Film on sports in Scotland |
| 1968 | Mackintosh | Documentary about 20th century Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh Charles Rennie Mackintosh Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a Scottish architect, designer, watercolourist and artist. He was a designer in the Arts and Crafts movement and also the main representative of Art Nouveau in the United Kingdom. He had a considerable influence on European design... |
| 1970 | Fettes | Documentary about activities and events at Fettes College Fettes College Fettes College is an independent school for boarding and day pupils in Edinburgh, Scotland with over two thirds of its pupils in residence on campus... , Edinburgh, including a visit by HM The Queen Mother Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II... |
| 1972 | GR Stein Refractories | Documentary about the production, and uses, of refractory brick Brick A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:... s |
| 1972 | Space and light | Documentary about the newly built St. Peter's Seminary St. Peter's Seminary (Cardross) St. Peter's Seminary is a disused Roman Catholic seminary near Cardross, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Designed by the firm of Gillespie, Kidd and Coia, it has been described by the international architecture conservation organisation DOCOMOMO as a modern "building of world significance"... , Cardross, by Scottish architects firm Gillespie, Kidd and Coia |
| 1973 | Travelpass: it's just the ticket | Promotional film for the Highland Board's "Rover" ticket |
| 1974 | Clydescope | Documentary about the river Clyde River Clyde The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire.... , from Biggar to Brodick, with Scottish comedian Billy Connolly Billy Connolly William "Billy" Connolly, Jr., CBE is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin... as guide |
| 1974 | Suilven spring | Documentary about the Northwest of Scotland seen through the eyes of a young couple taking a Spring break |
| 1975 | Raised from stone | Documentary about Scottish architectural styles |
| 1975 | The hand of Adam | Documentary about 18th century Scottish architect Robert Adam Robert Adam Robert Adam was a Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam , Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him... |
| 1975 | Prospect of Scotland | Documentary about Scottish industries in context with the country's history and tradition |
| 1975 | Steel upon the sward | Documentary about works of the three sculptors Gerald Laing Gerald Laing Gerald Ogilvie Laing was a British pop artist and sculptor. He lived in the Scottish Highlands.- Life :... , Gavin Scobie and Andrew Mylius |
| 1977 | Cumbernauld hit | A James-Bond James Bond James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,... type fiction film playing in the new town of Cumbernauld Cumbernauld Cumbernauld is a Scottish new town in North Lanarkshire. It was created in 1956 as a population overspill for Glasgow City. It is the eighth most populous settlement in Scotland and the largest in North Lanarkshire... , and sponsored by the Cumbernauld Development Corporation; the film is an original take on the "promotional" films produced for Scotland's new towns during the 1970s. |
| 1982 | Scotch myths | Documentary questening a Scotland portrayed by kitsch and stereotypes of fatigued romanticism; Murray Grigor produced this film together with his wife, Barbara Grigor, for the opening of Channel 4 Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel... . |
| 1982 | Sean Connery's Edinburgh | Documentary about Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area... presented by Scottish actor Sean Connery Sean Connery Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy... |
| 1983 | (Portrait of an artist:) The architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright | Documentary about 19th/20th century American architect Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture... featuring the architect's granddaughter, the actress Anne Baxter Anne Baxter Anne Baxter was an American actress known for her performances in films such as The Magnificent Ambersons , The Razor's Edge , All About Eve and The Ten Commandments .-Early life:... |
| 1984 | Pride of place | TV series documentary about American architecture |
| 1987 | Wyllie - Straw Loco | Unedited film footage of the art installation "Straw Locomotive" by artist George Wyllie George Wyllie George Wyllie MBE is a Scottish artist who resides in Gourock. He worked as a customs officer before taking up art. He describes himself as a "scul?tor".... which signified the decline of heavy industry on the banks of the river Clyde River Clyde The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire.... |
| 1988 | Henry Moore and landscape | TV documentary about 20th century English sculptor Henry Moore Henry Moore Henry Spencer Moore OM CH FBA was an English sculptor and artist. He was best known for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art.... |
| 1992 | E. P. sculptor | Documentary about, and with, 20th century Scottish sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi Eduardo Paolozzi Sir Eduardo Luigi Paolozzi, KBE, RA , was a Scottish sculptor and artist. He was a major figure in the international art sphere, while, working on his own interpretation and vision of the world. Paolozzi investigated how we can fit into the modern world to resemble our fragmented civilization... |
| 1995 | The architecture of Carlo Scarpa | Documentary about 20th century Italian architect Carlo Scarpa Carlo Scarpa Carlo Scarpa , was an Italian architect, influenced by the materials, landscape, and the history of Venetian culture, and Japan. Scarpa was also a glass and furniture designer of note.... , presented by Scottish architect Richard Murphy Richard Murphy (architect) Richard Murphy OBE is an architect based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and principal architect in Richard Murphy Architects.-History:Murphy was educated at Newcastle and Edinburgh Universities, and has taught at the latter. He formed his practice in 1991, which has since grown to over twenty architects,... |
| 1995 | In search of clarity: The architecture of Gwathmey Siegel | Documentary about 20th century American architects firm Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects LLC is a New York City-based architectural firm founded in 1967 by architects Charles Gwathmey and Robert Siegel. The firm's work ranges from art and educational facilities and major corporate buildings to furniture systems and decorative art objects... |
| 1998 | The face of Russia | TV mini-series |
| 1999 | Niniveh on the Clyde: the architecture of Alexander "Greek" Thomson | Documentary about 19th century Scottish architect Alexander "Greek" Thomson Alexander Thomson Alexander "Greek" Thomson was an eminent Scottish architect and architectural theorist who was a pioneer in sustainable building. Although his work was published in the architectural press of his day, it was little appreciated outwith Glasgow during his lifetime... |
| 2003 | Is mise an teanga (I am the tongue) | Documentary about the Scottish language Gaelic and its contemporary poets |
| 2005 | Maggie's Centres | Documentary about Maggie's Centres Maggie's centres Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres are a network of drop-in centres in Great Britain, whichaim to help anyone who has been affected by cancer. They are not intended as a replacement for conventional cancer therapy, but as a caring environment that can provide support, information and practical advice... , cancer care centres in Britain, inspired by Maggie Keswick Jencks and built by celebrated architects |
| 2005 | Sir John Soane: an English architect, an American legacy | Documentary about 18th century English architect Sir John Soane and his influence on 20th century American architects |
| 2008 | Infinite space: the architecture of John Lautner | Documentary about 20th century American architect John Lautner |
| 2008 | Shattering boundaries: Grace Hartigan | Documentary about 20th century American painter Grace Hartigan Grace Hartigan Grace Hartigan was an American Abstract Expressionist painter of the New York School in the 1950s.-Biography and early career:... |
| 2010 | Space and light revisited | Documentary about the now ruined St. Peter's Seminary St. Peter's Seminary (Cardross) St. Peter's Seminary is a disused Roman Catholic seminary near Cardross, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Designed by the firm of Gillespie, Kidd and Coia, it has been described by the international architecture conservation organisation DOCOMOMO as a modern "building of world significance"... , Cardross, which was already subject of a documentary by Grigor in 1972 |
Exhibitions
Grigor has curated, or contributed to, the following exhibitions.| Year | Title | Place | Notes |
| 1981 | Scotch myths: an exploration of scotchness | Crawford Centre, University of St. Andrews, and Edinburgh International Festival | about a Scotland portrayed by kitsch and stereotypes of fatigued romanticism; Murray Grigor curated this exhibition together with his wife Barbara; the Grigors also produced an exhibition catalogue, and film documentary on this subject under the same title. |
| 1990 | Scotland creates: 5000 years of art & design | McLellan Galleries, Glasgow | |
| 1991 | Seeds of change: a view of Scottish inventiveness | Royal Museum of Scotland / National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh | |
| 1993 | The Sixties | Barbican Art Gallery, London | |