Picasso to Abramović: introducing our 2020 exhibitions
Published on 2 September 2019
From the 18th century right up to the present and from fragile paper masterpieces to groundbreaking performance art, the RA's Artistic Director Tim Marlow introduces our exhibition programme for the coming year.
Please note: due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Royal Academy is temporarily closed, and our 2020 programme has changed. For the latest updates, visit the Plan your visit page or sign up for emails.
Video: 2020 at the Royal Academy of Arts
Beginning with Picasso and Paper, which opens in January 2020, our Artistic Director Tim Marlow introduces the coming year's exhibition programme at the Royal Academy of Arts.
Our 2020 exhibitions at a glance:
Pablo Picasso rewrote the rules of painting, but he also tore up the rulebook for paper. Bringing together 300 of the artist’s works, both on and with paper, this exhibition spans his entire prolific career and represents a significant chapter in modern art.
From celebrated self-portraits to dreamlike views of the North Sea coast, this exhibition will introduce UK audiences to the visionary work of Belgian artist Léon Spilliaert.
The Ordrupgaard Collection in Denmark is home to some of the most important Impressionist paintings in northern Europe. Next spring, we showcase 60 of its works – many of which have never been seen in the UK.
Art you love, art you hate, and art that simply puts a smile on your face. Get ready to discover works by household names and emerging artists at our annual celebration of art and creativity.
Angelica Kauffman, one of the founding members of the Royal Academy, was an artist who defied convention. In this major exhibition, we trace her trajectory from child prodigy to one of the most sought-after painters of her time.
With their radiant colours and rugged forms, Paul Cézanne’s paintings of the rocky landscapes of his native France are among the most extraordinary of his career. This is the first exhibition to focus on this body of work.
Marina Abramović is one of the most important performance artists in the world. Here, the artist presents the first ever UK exhibition spanning her life’s work – including live re-performances of iconic works, as well as brand new work for these galleries.
Rita Angus is considered one of the greatest New Zealand artists of the twentieth century. This revelatory exhibition will be the first to bring her pioneering modernist vision outside of New Zealand; a vision that’s come to symbolise the natural beauty and independent spirit of her home country.
She’s been a major figure in contemporary art for over 25 years; he pioneered a radical new style known as Expressionism. This exhibition from Oslo’s Munch Museum will reveal Tracey Emin’s long-held fascination with Edvard Munch.
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