Royal Academy of Arts

KD★★★★★★★★★★5.02 months ago

The building itself is remarkable—an inspiring setting for the exhibition of Rose Wylie. Her work is striking in its immediacy and honesty. At 85, Wylie continues to work actively from her studio in Kent, producing paintings that embrace a deliberately raw, almost childlike visual language. Beneath this simplicity lies a deeply reflective practice: her canvases draw on memories spanning from the Second World War to the present day, blending personal recollection with imagery sourced from films, newspapers, television, and the internet. Beyond this exhibition, the institution offers a rich journey through art history, with galleries that thoughtfully present works from the 17th century onward. Particularly compelling is the presentation of works by Royal Academy students—an exceptionally selective programme that admits only 17 postgraduate artists each year—offering insight into emerging contemporary practices. And, of course, no visit would be complete without a stop at the shop, a destination in its own right.

Angela M. Santander M.★★★★★★★★★★5.03 months ago

This is definitely one of my favorite cultural stops every time I am in Piccadilly. I spent a peaceful afternoon exploring their latest temporary exhibition and wandering through the main galleries. You can really feel the creative energy in every room, and the architecture beautifully blends tradition with modern touches. I love that it feels much more intimate and less crowded than other large London museums, making it perfect for genuine inspiration. It’s a true artistic gem that is always worth the visit, especially if you appreciate artist-led institutions.

San P★★★★★★★★★★4.05 months ago

Really good Kerry James Marshall exhibition. Beautiful Artwork. Sadly this exhibition ends on the 20th of January 2026. I will definitely try to go again before it ends. An American artist whose work looks at African American lives. I loved every piece in the exhibition. Go and have a look. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Steven stennett★★★★★★★★★★5.06 months ago

Museums in London are world beating. Its a privilege to live in a city with such a breath of free and paid for establishments. This was my first having spent decades living in the metropolis. I was not disappointed and will endeavour to return when time and new galleries are established. A solid 5 stars and well deserved.

Serendipity Lovesya★★★★★★★★★★5.04 months ago

Visited RA at the weekend to see the Kerry James Marshall exhibition, The Histories. Absolutely mesmerising! The RA was the perfect location as it could accommodate all of the art - there was so much to see! Now I'm no stranger to KJM, he is one of my favourite artists but to be up close to such epic large scale paintings was mind blowing. There was 70 works to see, his largest exhibition outside of the US, and probably the first chance for many in the UK to see too. Vivid, powerful paintings that were full of references which spanned civil rights and art history. So glad I made the time to see this exhibition - very moving and memorable.