The 2016 Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts

The 2016 Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts marked the 248th edition of the world’s longest-running open-submission art exhibition. Held at Burlington House in London in August, the exhibition was coordinated by sculptor Richard Wilson RA and brought together more than 1,000 works by both emerging and internationally acclaimed artists. Remaining true to the exhibition’s historic mission, the show presented painting, sculpture, architecture, printmaking, photography, film, and installation art side by side, offering a vibrant snapshot of contemporary creative practice. A distinctive feature of the 2016 edition was Wilson’s focus on artistic collaborations and celebrated creative duos. Works by artists such as Jake & Dinos Chapman, Jane & Louise Wilson, and Tim Noble & Sue Webster were displayed throughout the galleries, highlighting themes of partnership and collective creation. The exhibition also featured major installations, including Ron Arad’s kinetic sculpture Spyre in the Royal Academy courtyard and Yinka Shonibare’s RA Family Album 2016 on the building’s façade. Combining established names with first-time exhibitors, the Summer Exhibition once again demonstrated its unique ability to showcase the breadth, diversity, and energy of contemporary art.