What’s On: Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition 2025
Returning for its 257th year, the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition 2025 is dedicated to conversation. Opening on 17 June and coordinated by internationally acclaimed architect Farshid Moussavi OBE RA, this year’s exhibition centres on the theme “Dialogues” – a testament to art’s ability to spark conversations around modern-day issues.
‘The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2025 will be dedicated to art’s capacity to forge dialogues and to afford us sensitivity towards societal concerns, such as ecology, survival and living together,’ said the Royal Academician. ‘These dialogues can be between people of different races, genders or cultures; between humans, all species and the planet; or across different disciplines – art, science, politics for example.’
Last year’s Summer Exhibition certainly created discussion, dividing critical opinions with its curated collection of clutter. This year, however, promises to be a masterclass in storytelling. Contemporary artists Lucy and Jorge Orta show survival lifejackets they created on their return from an expedition to the Antarctic; award-winning photographer Mandy Barker presents the damaging effects of the use of synthetic clothing in fast fashion in her photo series Cyanotype Imperfections; Tamara Kostianovsky explores industrialisation, consumerism and bodily autonomy in her installation, Growth.
Around 1,200 works are set to go on display, with previous years accumulating works from the likes of David Hockney and Tracey Emin, as well as emerging new talent and Royal Academicians. Jenny Holzer RA will be showcasing work for the very first time, alongside other Honorary Royal Academicians, such as Marlene Dumas, Mimmo Paladino and Ryan Gander – who will be displaying five inflatable balls in the Annenberg Courtyard inscribed with imaginative questions presented to grown-ups by curious children.
Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition 2025, 17 June-17 August. Book in advance at royalacademy.org.uk