Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2021 ‒ what the critics are saying

‘Refreshing’ show curated by Yinka Shonibare brings together 1,382 works created in every medium

Summer Exhibition visitors looking at the collection
The Summer Exhibition
(Image credit: Royal Academy)

The Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition has been staged every summer since 1769 – and seldom, in recent years, has it provided many memorable experiences, said Jonathan Jones in The Guardian. “Most years I walk through it with a mounting boredom and claustrophobia, senses dulled by acres of mediocre art.” So this year’s joyous new iteration of the event (shunted to the autumn by the pandemic) could hardly be more of a surprise.

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