For the first time in its history, the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition moved to winter and now it's online as Tier 4 has forced the RA to shut its doors once again.
If you’re looking for a welcome distraction or a last-minute Christmas present, here it is. If art has taught us anything over the past year, it is that it can inspire hope as well as offer individual moments of solace.
252 years ago, a group of artists decided to create an annual exhibition, showcasing art of the moment to the nation, to support artists and architects. The Summer Exhibition has run uninterrupted ever since and is a permanent fixture of the summer calendar for art seekers, year after year – well, until this year.
As a charity without government funding, income from the Summer Exhibition supports both the exhibiting artists and the not-for-profit work of the RA. By buying an artwork online, you are helping to support the free training of the next generation of artists in the RA Schools and outreach work to teachers, children and local communities.
Coordinated by Jane and Louise Wilson RA, this year’s exhibition includes new works by Tracey Emin, Rebecca Horn, Anselm Kiefer, Julian Schnabel, Gillian Wearing and Ai Weiwei.
Enjoy a free virtual tour of the Summer Exhibition, or browse and buy works online.