Glasgow’s Finnieston Crane Blooms with Giant Mackintosh Rose Art for 2026 Games

A giant new sculpture has been revealed on Glasgow's famous Finnieston Crane, just in time for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The artwork is a huge rose, inspired by the well-known Scottish designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife Margaret. The rose is about 10 meters wide and was created to honor Glasgow's rich artistic history and the importance of the crane as a city landmark. The artist behind the project is Emer Tumilty, who was asked to create a modern version of the classic Mackintosh rose. Her design was made to hang from the crane and add something special to the Clydeside area.

Emer Tumilty said that at first, she felt nervous about the project because the Mackintosh rose is such a famous symbol in Scotland. She wanted to respect the original design but also make something new and fun. She said she started to enjoy the process and tried to be creative with her ideas. Emer hopes that if Charles and Margaret Mackintosh were alive today, they would like her new version of the rose. She described her sculpture as a reimagined rose for the Commonwealth Games. Emer worked with a creative studio called Newsubstance, and one of their team members, Hannah Rozenberg, helped her with the project. Hannah explained that they wanted to make something that would stand out for the Games and that the crane is a strong symbol of Glasgow. Instead of just copying the old rose design, they wanted to create something modern and fresh. By combining the rose and the crane, they brought together two important symbols of the city.

Both Emer and Hannah usually work with digital tools to design their art, so when they saw the sculpture being built, they were amazed by its size. Emer said she was impressed by all the hard work that went into making the rose. She felt proud to be part of a project that celebrates Glasgow's culture and art. She hopes the Commonwealth Games will help people see the best of what Glasgow has to offer. Hannah said one of the biggest challenges was making sure the sculpture could handle Glasgow's changing weather. The crane is very tall and the weather can be windy and rainy, so they had to make the rose both strong and beautiful. The Games started with a big celebration, including athletes winning medals and people playing indoor bowls. The city was full of excitement, and there were even fireworks. The new rose on the crane is a symbol of Glasgow's love for art and sports, and it welcomes everyone who comes to the city for the Games.