Thursday’s Child – The Roots of Wonder
Jennie McCall
30 Aug – 4 Oct
From Childhood to Creative Practice: Symbols and Stories Reimagined
Cupola Contemporary Art presents Thursday’s Child – The Roots of Wonder, a captivating exhibition by artist Jennie McCall, exploring how childhood experiences continue to shape her creative practice. The show coincides with the release of her memoir, Thursday’s Child – A Memoir, in which McCall reflects on her father’s suicide, being raised by a single parent, and the formative experiences that continue to echo through the symbolism of her art.
Visitors will experience the full breadth of her work, from ceramics and sculptures—hearts, nests, busts, large plates, and whales—to posters, an audio collage of interviews and spoken word, and fragments of songs from her past, creating a rich dialogue between her earliest influences and her work today.
Born on an army base in Germany and raised in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, McCall’s early life was shaped by tragedy and family secrets. She forged a path to become a nationally recognised artist, celebrated for her soulful, beautiful, and thought-provoking creations. Working in both illustration and sculpture, she transforms pen, clay, and found objects into works that resonate with emotion and quiet strength.
“Creativity, to me, has always been the most profound language—one that speaks beyond words and time, unravelling the stories that dwell quietly beneath the surface of memory.” Jennie McCall
At the heart of McCall’s practice lies a deep connection to the natural world, fairytales, and folklore. The roots of this stemming back to childhood.
“Growing up in a small industrial town, I was aware of the seasonal changes in the surrounding fields and woods. I was captivated by the sight of wildflowers pushing up through cracks in the pavement, their colours bright against the dull concrete. I would crouch low to examine the velvety softness of their petals. Watching butterflies flit through the garden—wings shimmering in sunlight sparked a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around me.
Childhood, for me, was a period of boundless imagination but not all my formative influences were ideal. The challenges encountered during my school years, coupled with the social stigma associated with being raised by a single parent and periods of isolation, highlighted for me the role art can play in processing and interpreting difficult experiences. Drawing became a constructive outlet for articulating emotions and expressing otherwise ineffable fears and aspirations. Over time, I came to view vulnerability as a valuable source of strength, both personally and within my artistic practice.” Jennie McCall
McCall’s pieces are tactile, layered, and sensory, often incorporating organic materials such as stones, feathers, and shells as markers of memory and connection. Her imagery frequently features trees as symbols of shelter and growth, alongside animals rendered with a delicate balance of realism and abstraction.
“Jennie's pieces have an innate tactile quality to them, they make you want to touch or hold them. Coupling this with such a high degree of sculptural skill her work is truly extraordinary. This show promises to be not only a stunning tour de force but a revealing and intimate exploration of an artists practice and the driving forces behind the work she puts everything into.”
Artist Statement