This week the Royal Academy opened its doors for its annual celebration of art and eccentricity in a tradition that stretches back unbroken for almost 250 years.The RA’s Summer Exhibition is the world’s largest open invitation art event. Every year the academy is inundated with thousands of applications from known artists and aspiring amateurs hailing from all over the world – all competing for much-sought after wall space next to the giants of the art world.
All applications are sifted through a panel of artists who make their final selection at the end of an eight-day process that involves imbibing copious amounts of beef tea. Out of the estimated 12,000 applications, around 1,200 pieces of art will make the cut and take pride of place in the exhibition.
The co-coordinator of 2017's exhibition is painter, printmaker, and Keeper of the Royal Academy, Eileen Cooper. Along with her panel of selectors, Cooper aims to promote the discovery of up-and-coming talent from across the globe to sit alongside the internationally-known artists at the show.
This year, highlights from the established artists include Yinka Shonibare’s six-metre tall Wind Sculpture VI, a new large-scale work from Gilbert and George, and works from the like of Julian Schnabel and Sean Scully.
The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition runs until Sunday 20 August 2017.
