Happenings RA Summer Party
This week, the Royal Academy of Arts opened its doors for the long anticipated annual Summer Exhibition and wowed London with its dazzling annual Summer Party.
Now in its 257th year, the open-submission show remains a rare platform where emerging and established artists exhibit side by side in a celebration of creativity and community. Curated by internationally renowned architect Farshid Moussavi OBE RA, this year’s edition features 1,700 bold new works spanning painting, sculpture, and architecture to explore this year’s theme, ‘Dialogues’ looking at arts capacity to forge dialogues and afford us sensitivity towards societal concerns including: ecology, community and co-existence across cultures, genders, species and disciplines.
Visitors are greeted with a striking installation by Ryan Gander RA on display in the Annenberg Courtyard, featuring five 3 metre diameter inflatable balls inscribed with absurd or provocative questions developed with children. Once inside, discover British artist Alice Channer’s 6-metre-high installation of ostrich feathers and steel chain and Brazilian artist Antonio Tarsis’ work consisting of a 4.5m high and 7m wide wall made from deconstructed matchboxes.
In addition to the large number of public submissions, Royal Academicians will be showing works, including: Rana Begum, Frank Bowling, Grayson Perry, Lubaina Himid, Cornelia Parker, Veronica Ryan, Conrad Shawcross, Yinka Shonibare and Rose Wylie. Honorary Royal Academician Jenny Holzer will be showing work at the Summer Exhibition for the very first time.
The Wick joined Farshid Moussavi for an interview to gain rare insight into the curatorial process and the RA’s ongoing mission to support artists. The exhibition continues to be a vital space for dialogue, experimentation, and access.
For the Summer Party, the RA courtyard transformed into a joyful gathering of artists, curators, and cultural tastemakers. Chairs of the Party included Conrad Shawcross RA and designer Rejino Pyo alongside Chair of Trustees Batia Ofer. Guests included Yinka Ilori RA, Eliza Bonham Carter, Paloma, Paloma Faith, Bob and Roberta, Christabel Blackburn, Edeline Lee, and Yomi Adegoke, with DJ sets by Zezi Ifore and OB Unlimited bringing the energy into the night and the best of British Fortnum’s hosting a unique after party of cultural leaders in its iconic 3 and 6 Bar.
This year’s preview party was sponsored by fragrance House of Creed on a mission to re-enforce its connection to refine artistic expression as part of its ongoing commitment to creativity, excellence and cultural enrichment.
Independent, artist-led, and deeply rooted in its mission, the RA continues to champion visual culture at its most dynamic. The Summer Exhibition is, as ever, a must-see and the party, a brilliant celebration of it all.
