Events

The art of portraiture dates back at least 5,000 years to ancient Egypt and, up until the invention of photography, was the only way to capture a person’s likeness. Throughout history, portraits have been used as a tool for demonstrating the sitter’s status and importance, as well as to assert dominance over subjects and enemies....

This exhibition showcases work by the late sculptor Tom Millard RBSA and practising artist Melanie Keevil. Tom gained his inspiration from the natural world in all its forms and changing seasons. His journey around the Southwest coastline, especially the juxtaposition and interplay between the land and sea particularly fascinated him. He was also inspired by...

Following in an RBSA tradition that dates back to 1814, the RBSA Summer Show is an open call exhibition that welcomes submissions from artists working in any media. However, unlike that first exhibition which was only open to artists from within a 30-mile radius of the city, today the RBSA receives entries from artists based...

This exhibition of selected works from the RBSA Collection looks at changing approaches to the representation of the face and figure over 200 years. The exhibition offers some fascinating insights into the cultural life of Birmingham with fine drawings, paintings and sculpture from the Georgian period to the present. There is something for all tastes,...

This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see the remarkable work of the Birmingham born and trained artist John Salt in the UK. After settling in the USA in 1967, Salt became one of the pioneers of the Photorealist movement. Fascinated by American cars as prime symbols of consumer culture, his exquisitely detailed paintings created...

An open media exhibition of contemporary work. The RBSA Prize Exhibition is a biennial celebration of creativity and innovation showcasing work in at the cutting edge of contemporary art. Welcoming work from both established and emerging artists from around the world, this all media exhibition includes artwork created using an exciting range of artforms and...

Founded in 1879, the Birmingham Art Circle has strong links with the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, and many of its artists are also members of the RBSA. The Birmingham Art Circle Annual Exhibition showcases a wide range of artworks by established practising artists, working in a range of media. The pieces exhibited include printworks,...

Shape Shift is an exhibition to celebrate the sculpture of the Midlands’ leading sculpture group, the Shapeshifters. Established in 1989, and working in Selly Oak and Dudley, the Shapeshifters has a diverse membership encompassing different levels of skill, from novice carvers to professional-level sculptors and makers. A variety of sculptural styles and media will be...

For the Culture is an exhibition that features work from established and emerging artists that responded to the theme. For Deborette Clarke and Janet Douglas, the curators behind Greenwood Presents, For the Culture embodies who they are and what they stand for; it is part of their DNA or roots of origin. The exhibition brings...

The RBSA Membership is made up of almost 200 artists whose practices are rooted in a diverse range of media and techniques.  Exploring both traditional and contemporary approaches, the RBSA's Annual Exhibition showcases over 200 artworks, all of which are for sale. The first Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Annual Exhibition (then the Society of...

Remembering is Painful, Forgetting is Unbearable explores questions such as why do some terror attacks make international headlines while others remain in the shadows? How do survivors of terror attacks make sense of their experiences? Whose voices are marginalised in contemporary debates about terrorism? And crucially, what role does art play in the practices of...