Ralph Albert Blakelock
The Royal Academy of Arts
London
SUB CATEGORIES
×
How the French Riviera became an artists' playground - The World Of Interiors(SEP 11, 2026)Why the Royal Academy is Time Out’s Favourite London Art Gallery Right Now - timeout.com(AUG 31, 2026)Kent artist who murdered his father and created masterpieces in an asylum celebrated in major exhibition - Kent Online(AUG 28, 2026)Cristina Iglesias Creates a Site-Specific Work for the Royal Academy of Arts - Alejandra de Argos(AUG 25, 2026)'I Love My City': Six-year-old artist's work displayed at the Royal Academy of Art - portsmouth.co.uk(AUG 18, 2026)How the French Riviera became an artists' playground - The World Of Interiors(SEP 11, 2026)Why the Royal Academy is Time Out’s Favourite London Art Gallery Right Now - timeout.com(AUG 31, 2026)Kent artist who murdered his father and created masterpieces in an asylum celebrated in major exhibition - Kent Online(AUG 28, 2026)Cristina Iglesias Creates a Site-Specific Work for the Royal Academy of Arts - Alejandra de Argos(AUG 25, 2026)'I Love My City': Six-year-old artist's work displayed at the Royal Academy of Art - portsmouth.co.uk(AUG 18, 2026)
LIVE
About & Heritage
The Royal Academy of Arts was founded by King George III in 1768 with a mission to promote the creation, enjoyment, and appreciation of the fine arts. Its inception was led by a group of eminent artists and architects, including Sir Joshua Reynolds (its first president) and Thomas Gainsborough. Unlike many other major national institutions, the RA is an independent, privately funded charity led by Royal Academicians—prominent practicing artists and architects. The Academy is famous for its Royal Academy Schools, the first of their kind in Britain, which have provided free art education since the 18th century. It is also the home of the Summer Exhibition, the world’s oldest open-submission exhibition, held every year without fail since 1769. The RA’s heritage is housed within the grand Palladian setting of Burlington House on Piccadilly, with a 2018 expansion by Sir David Chipperfield connecting it to Burlington Gardens. This revitalization significantly increased space for exhibitions, learning, and the display of its historic permanent collection, including the only Michelangelo marble sculpture in the UK. Today, the RA continues to be a vibrant center for world-class exhibitions, debate, and the fostering of future artistic talent.
- Note : London (Burlington House) - This is the historic flagship and primary location. The Academy operates as an independent, privately funded institution.
The Royal Academy of Arts Opening Overview
Open to the public daily. Many displays and the permanent collection are free, while major loan exhibitions require a ticket. Booking in advance is recommended.
Weekly Hours
Tue – Sun: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Late Night opening)
Monday: Closed (Except for Bank Holidays)
Special Closures & Private Visit Policy
Closed December 24–26. Check the official calendar for seasonal installation gaps.
Open to Public, By Appointment Only (Private Tours/Corporate Hire), Members Only (RA Friends previews), Private Suite / VIP Only (Supporters’ House).
Legacy & Iconic Highlights
Sir Joshua Reynolds (President) (First President and primary visionary, 1768)
Thomas Gainsborough (Founder) (Founding member and legendary portraitist)
Michelangelo (Taddei Tondo) (The only marble sculpture by Michelangelo in the UK)
J.M.W. Turner (Royal Academician) (Iconic landscape painter and RA graduate/professor)
John Constable (Royal Academician) (The Leaping Horse, landmark permanent work)
Summer Exhibition (Event) (Oldest annual open art show in the world, est. 1769)
Sir David Chipperfield (Architect) (Led the massive “600-Foot” 250th-anniversary expansion)
Tracey Emin (Royal Academician) (Elected RA in 2007; iconic and controversial highlights)
David Hockney (Royal Academician) (A Bigger Picture retrospective, 2012)
Anish Kapoor (Royal Academician) (First living artist with a solo show in the Main Galleries, 2009)
Ai Weiwei (Artist) (Major 2015 retrospective involving the courtyard installation)
Sensation (Event) (Landmark 1997 exhibition featuring Young British Artists)
Marina Abramović (Performance) (Major retrospective “After Life” in 2023)
Sir Christopher Wren (Architect) (Historic connection to the founding architectural body)
John Everett Millais (Artist) (Pre-Raphaelite highlights within the Academy’s history)
Angelica Kauffman (Founder) (One of only two female founding members in 1768)
Rebecca Salter (President) (First female President in RA history, elected 2019)
Norman Foster (Royal Academician) (Architectural excellence and exhibition support)
Zaha Hadid (Royal Academician) (Posthumous celebrations of her visionary design)
Lucian Freud (Artist) (Self-portrait highlights and retrospective presence)
Leonardo da Vinci (The Last Supper) (Home to a high-quality 16th-century copy)
Gilbert & George (Artists) (Elected Royal Academicians, prominent show presence)
Francis Bacon (Artist) (Man and Beast major exhibition, 2022)
The Burlington House (Architecture) (The grand neo-Palladian setting itself)
Antony Gormley (Royal Academician) (Elected 2003; major immersive installation, 2019)
- RSS feed
Live Updates: The Royal Academy of Arts
- How the French Riviera became an artists' playground - The World Of Interiors
- Why the Royal Academy is Time Out’s Favourite London Art Gallery Right Now - timeout.com
- Kent artist who murdered his father and created masterpieces in an asylum celebrated in major exhibition - Kent Online
- Cristina Iglesias Creates a Site-Specific Work for the Royal Academy of Arts - Alejandra de Argos
- 'I Love My City': Six-year-old artist's work displayed at the Royal Academy of Art - portsmouth.co.uk
Venue Type
Premium Art Gallery, Art Museum & Foundation, Cultural Art Center, Art College & Academy, Artistic Heritage Site
Social Presence
Venue ID : 41231
Last Update : August 22, 2026
- Note: These details are curated for preliminary guidance. As schedules and seasonal programming at prestigious institutions are subject to change, we recommend visiting the venue’s official portal for the most current information and private arrangements.
- If you notice any discrepancies, require structural updates to an artist profile, wish to submit a recommendation, or would like to share your official portfolio document and visual artwork samples, please do not hesitate to reach out. We welcome submissions from artists, representatives, and estates alike.
- Contact Us
Art Venues Live Daily : A rolling 72-hour chronicle of global updates and exclusive dispatches from leading creative spaces.
17 Sep 2026Read more
16 Sep 2026Read more
Read more
Other Art Venues
Find Art Style & Movement
Select Art Style...
Abstract
Abstract Expressionism
Academic Art
Aestheticism
Architectural Movements
Art Deco
Art Nouveau
Baroque
Bauhaus
Byzantine
Cartoon
CGI
Chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro Noir
Classical Architecture
Classicism
Comic
Conceptual
Contemporary
Cubism
Dada
Early Renaissance
Expressionism
Fantasy Art
Fashion
Fashion Design
Fashion Illustration
Fashion Photography
Fauvism
Fresco
Gothic
Haute Couture
High Renaissance
Hybrid
Illustration
Impressionism
Landscape
Line art
Manga
Mannerism
Marvel
Matte Painting
Miniature
Minimalism
Modern Architecture
Modernism
Muralism
Neoclassicism
Orientalism
Photography
Pop Art
Pre-Raphaelite
Realism
Regionalism
Relief 
Renaissance
Rococo
Romanticism
SCI-FI
Sculpting
Street Art
Surrealism
Symbolism
Tempera
Tenebrism
Tonalism
VFX
Victorian
Fine Art Directory
Edward Armitage
Ai Weiwei
Charles Frederick Worth
Fra Bartolomeo
Malangatana Ngwenya
Agnolo di Cosimo
Man Ray
Paul Gauguin
Vincent van Gogh
Yves Saint Laurent
