RWA Open Exhibition 2019: Review

The Royal West of England Academy of Art is having its 167th annual open exhibition. The exhibition shows well over 600 works from well known and lesser known artists in a huge variety of styles, material and subject matter. The choice is enormous, it's an almost overdose of art, but it's also a fabulous exhibition well worth visiting whether you are buyer, an artist or an art lover.

This article will show some of my favourites in the show. Obviously this means this review is totally subjective. I prefer figurative art and good painting and drawing skills. But I do like abstract art as well, as long as it is not gimmicky and doesn't put concept over execution. There is a lot, a lot, of abstract large art at the RWA, there always is. Many pieces are so big they shout over the smaller more figurative pieces. But hanging a show so varied and so large is no mean task and compromises had to be made, I have no doubt.

You can find images of the show and some of my personal highlights below. I hope they will encourage you to go and visit, or, if you are too far away, provide some inspiration in your day.

Click the images for an enlargement.

My two pieces almost have their own little room. In the small space between the main exhibition hall and another space, they hang in all their glory. I am very pleased with how they hung my work and I hope visitors will enjoy seeing them.

The walls on either side of the entrance door are often reserverd for portraiture and figurative work. It goes without saying that these walls are my favourite. There are some excellent pieces here that are a joy to behold.

My favourite wall. Many pieces in the exhibition could not really be appreciated. In the top left corner, for example, hangs a piece by Jo Barber. It is nearly one meter tall and completely done in coloured pencil. I would have loved to have seen that more close up.

Amazing work too by Howard Mason (top middle), Varosha Cornford (top right), a stunning piece in watercolour by Claire Sparkes with spectacular fabric details, more patterns and fabrics by Zi Lang (middle), another beautiful piece by Sparkes and a stunner of a family portrait by Vincent Brown.

The drawings room (black and white room, I call it) is always great. For some reason this room always 'works' because the colour scheme is, obviously, all black and white and there are always some amazing art works. Some rely on skill, some on poetry, some hit both.

In some cases photography and hyper realist graphite art was together. It can be hard to see the difference sometimes. That is a compliment to the graphite artist, no doubt, but it also raises some interesting questions - which are for another day, I suppose.

The small works room is always popular, especially with buyers. There are always plenty of red dots to be found and lots of lovely little portraits, still life and more.

I thought this year's exhibition was at its usual standard: a large variety of works but, as always, a slight lean towards abstract pieces. As always there are too many which, in my eyes, are gimmicky and empty. Also there are also always a couple of figurative pieces that raises everyone's eyebrow by its lack of skill. But there is also a huge offering of capable, skill ful and poetic works. In such a large and crowded show, it is worth going back a few times. I walked round probably 4 times and still found pieces I had not spotted before. Some are overshadowed by others, some hang too high or low to notice at a first round, but many are worth a second look, for sure! A beautiful and varied show.