Last weekend : 50 years Andy Goldsworthy. An absolute MUST. Outstanding creativity, manifested in his experiences and love of Nature. Sensitivity, uniqueness, humility mark Goldsworthy's brilliance.
Wonderful Andy gold worthy exhibition. Great themes of life death impermanence and so on.
I went to see the Andy Goldsworthy Fifty Years exhibition. Stunning, absorbing and thought-provoking. Excellent guide was supplied to explain the works and it really added to my enjoyment. The staff were knowledgeable and gave me a real insight into the process of how the pieces were displayed. Thank you Andy, for sharing so much. The mixture of videos, photographs, physical items and sketch books made everything come alive. So glad I made the long trip north to see it!
The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) stands as Scotland's prestigious national academy of art, dedicated to the cultivation and promotion of contemporary Scottish art. Established in 1826 by a visionary group of eleven artists who convened in the heart of Edinburgh, the Academy began its journey as the Scottish Academy. In recognition of its significance and contributions to the arts, it was granted a royal charter in 1838, thus acquiring the name Royal Scottish Academy. The RSA occupies a distinctive and revered position within the cultural landscape of Scotland. As an independently funded institution, it is guided by a collective of distinguished artists and architects. Their mission is to foster the creation, understanding, and enjoyment of visual arts throughout the country. The RSA achieves this through a dynamic array of exhibitions and engaging educational events, which serve to enrich the public's appreciation of art and stimulate vibrant discussions around contemporary artistic practices.
CONS: Went during a warm summer weekday in August and many of the more busy galleries were uncomfortably hot and long lines at the ladies rest room as well a regular people using the handicapped restroom to jump the line. If you need access to the lifts, be prepared to wait and it's segmented to multiple locations including getting into the museum from Great Russell. The lifts are small and if you have a wheelchair/stroller, it's a much longer day. One of the outdoor lifts broke while we were using it. One star less due to that. PROS: Able to reserve a wheelchair ahead of time and express line for accessibility. Highly recommended to go early and get tickets ahead of time for the special exhibits and timed entry galleries. Exhibit wise, incredible world class collection of historic and cultural artifacts. Overwhelmingly stunning and extensive collection of decorative arts including collections of coins/monies and clocks. There are items there not seen anywhere else in the world in one location. Worth while tolerating the above mention inconveniences.
There is often a new exhibition and amazing art to purchase. Beautiful space and free for all.
We visited in October 2022 and viewed the Impressionists exhibition detailing how Scottish collectors supported the artists and their works. The exhibition was thorough, outlining how Impressionism had evolved, influenced by early schools of art. Besides the well known stars, other lesser known artists were showcased, together with works of later schools, including works by Picasso and Matisse. There were many paintings and sculptures, including some famous works. The exhibition filled all the main halls of the Academy, with helpful staff in the rooms happy to answer questions.
We really enjoyed our visit to this gallery especially the showcasing of modern artists work. The separate exhibition we paid to go and see was well worth the visit. We will definitely come back again. The staff were friendly and very helpful
Great Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec exhibition on at the moment £11.50 (£10 online) entry, but I thought it was worth it to see these masterpieces. The exhibition is titled Pin-Ups: Toulouse-Lautrec and the Art of Celebrity. There are pieces by other artists of the period, including John Duncan Fergussons La Taresse , Café D'harcourt. It's beauty stopped me in my tracks.
The Royal Scottish Academy is located at The Mound, Edinburgh EH2 2EL, UK
You can contact The Royal Scottish Academy at +44 131 624 6110
You can find directions to The Royal Scottish Academy by following this map link