Finnieston Crane transformed into spectacular Glasgow 2026 Rose landmark

As the first full week of competition at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games gets underway, a striking new landmark has taken its place on the city's skyline. The Glasgow Rose, a monumental public artwork suspended from the iconic Finnieston Crane, now stands as a powerful symbol of Glasgow's creativity, heritage and warm welcome to athletes and visitors from across the Commonwealth.

The installation, commissioned as part of the Glasgow 2026 Festival, is the work of Glasgow-based artist Emer Tumilty in collaboration with internationally acclaimed creative studio NEWSUBSTANCE. Inspired by the celebrated rose motif of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh, the artwork merges two of Glasgow's most enduring symbols—its industrial legacy and its artistic brilliance.

The artwork first captivated residents as it "bloomed" along the banks of the River Clyde during the opening of the Games. Now, it has risen high above the city, transforming the historic Finnieston Crane into a dramatic canvas overlooking Glasgow as sporting action intensifies across all four competition venues.

For generations, the Finnieston Crane has represented the city's shipbuilding excellence, engineering innovation and industrial strength. By pairing it with the world-renowned Mackintosh rose, The Glasgow Rose celebrates Glasgow's remarkable journey from an industrial powerhouse to a global cultural destination.

The installation is among the largest public artworks ever created for a Commonwealth Games and offers a spectacular welcome to competitors and visitors arriving in Scotland's largest city. Glasgow 2026 Chief Executive Phil Batty described the artwork as much more than a visual spectacle. "This is far more than a spectacular artwork. It is the coming together of two of Glasgow's greatest icons," he said.

"Together they create a powerful symbol of the Glasgow we are welcoming people to today—creative, confident, bold and proudly looking to the future. "It feels entirely fitting that this has been created not only in honour of one of Glasgow's greatest artistic legacies, but by one of Glasgow's exciting new artistic voices. That's exactly what these Games are about, celebrating where we've come from while championing the talent shaping where we're going."

Artist Emer Tumilty, who studied at The Glasgow School of Art before making Glasgow her home, described the commission as an extraordinary opportunity. "The Mackintosh rose is recognised around the world, and to see it reimagined at this scale, suspended from the Finnieston Crane, has been incredibly special," she said.

"I hope people see a work that celebrates Glasgow's creativity, optimism and character, and feel the affection for the city that inspired every part of it." Patrick O'Mahony, Founder and Creative Director of NEWSUBSTANCE, highlighted the technical achievement behind the installation.

"Projects like this only happen when art, engineering and creative ambition come together. The Glasgow Rose is as much an engineering achievement as it is an artistic one," he said. "To transform one of Glasgow's most iconic structures into a canvas at this scale has been an extraordinary challenge and a privilege. The result is something that belongs uniquely to Glasgow."

Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life and City Convener for Culture, Sport and International Relations, said the artwork reflects Glasgow's reputation for combining sport and culture on the world stage. She noted that The Glasgow Rose not only represents the spirit of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games but also serves as a fitting tribute ahead of the centenary of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's death in 2028.

Matthew Williams, Director of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, welcomed the installation, saying it was exciting to see an interpretation of Mackintosh's iconic work featured as part of the Commonwealth Games while showcasing the talent of an emerging Glasgow-based artist. The Glasgow Rose will remain visible across the River Clyde throughout the Commonwealth Games as part of the Glasgow 2026 Festival, a ten-week programme celebrating the city's culture, creativity and communities alongside one of the world's biggest multi-sport events.