A chance to view work from current students at the Royal Academy Schools.
Deep inside the beating heart of the Royal Academy of Arts, you'll find one of Britain's longest-established art institutions, the Royal Academy Schools. This unique art school has been part of the Royal Academy since it opened in 1769. Today, only 10-17 postgraduates are chosen for its three-year programme each year. As well as offering free tuition and shared studio space in the centre of Mayfair, students can benefit from an impressive lineup of guest artists and thinkers.
Alumni include the late, great William Blake and JMW Turner, as well as living artists Michael Armitage and Sofía Clausse. After graduating in 2022, Clausse caught the attention of Comme des Garçons' Rei Kawakubo a year later. As a result, a T-shirt collaboration ensued, featuring a print version of her bold, interlocking paintings in the brand's Homme Deux A/W 2023 collection.
“The variety of featured work spans many genres”
Meanwhile, expect a broad creative offering from 32 current RA Schools students from all three years at this thought-provoking group show. From installation and video to sculpture, painting and printmaking, the variety of featured work spans many genres.
Take Tanoa Sasraku's Untitled (2023) silk screen print for instance, inspired by Lego building-blocks. Massimiliano Gottardi's Steps (2024), constructed from wood, steel and carpet, leaves you questioning the notion of movement and relocation. Then there's Dwayne Coleman's Showers at Dusk (Saffron Lane 19:58)(2023), which captures the moment in a riot of red through the medium of acrylic and oil-stick on stitched canvas.
“You may even discover the next big thing in the art world”
Other standout pieces on show include Francisca Pinto's Flash (2024). This depicts a distorted portrait of the sitter to evoke a sense of story while, at the same time, leaving the viewer to create their own narrative. Lastly, a pair of pastel-on-paper burlesque-themed posters by the multi-disciplinary artist Alex Margo Arden explores the theme of theatrical models of production and interpretation.
Who knows, you may even discover the next big thing in the art world while you are here. In which case, a glass of celebratory fizz is in order at Cecconi's, located just behind the galleries and within easy reach of Bond Street.
Three Years is on at the Royal Academy of Arts, Western Studio/Burlington House from 17 April-26 May 2024.