179th RHA Annual Exhibition

Both the Annual Exhibition and the Academy are evolving entities reflecting the art of their time. Like the RHA, the show is artist-led and for the benefit of artists, reflecting the best and the best practitioners. It is made up of work by Members, Academicians, Associates and Honoraries, as well as works selected through open submission and by invitation. Inviting artists to participate enables the Academy to curate an area of the show, encourages and promotes young artists and includes older established artists who might not ordinarily sumit. The open submission process provides almost half of the Annual Exhibition, rigourously selected by the Academy Council from
the vast number of applicants. Both the regular commitment of many artists, year after year, and the surprise element of any open submission are equally welcomed by the Academy. Finally the work of Members represents and reflects the different disciplines of this national institution and provides the constant core of the Annual Exhibition. The success of the exhibition lies in knitting together these three strands – invited artists, open submission and Member’s work – to form a pluralist and varied show which is dynamic and real.
Selection of images from the exhibition
Colin Davidson, Window (Duke Street, St James’, London), 2009, oil on canvas, 89 x 115cmImage 6 of 15