The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) is celebrating its bicentenary with the RSA 200 Annual Exhibition, featuring 560 works by members and emerging artists. The exhibition, led by convenors Annie Cattrell and Fergus Purdie, runs from 9 May to 14 June 2026 in Edinburgh. Cattrell's theme "In Time" links to the tercentenary of geologist James Hutton, exploring geology and the passage of time, while Purdie's themes "Beginning(s)" and "Unbuilt" invite Academicians to design an imagined alternative Academy building. The show includes works by artists such as Julie Brook and Samantha Clark, with installation views photographed by Julie Howden.
The exhibition matters because it marks a historic milestone for the RSA, which has sustained best practice in contemporary Scottish art and architecture for 200 years. By connecting its bicentenary to Hutton's tercentenary, the show bridges art, science, and geological time, offering a platform for both established Academicians and lesser-known artists. The thoughtful hanging and selection by Cattrell and her committee create an intimate, uncluttered experience despite the large number of works, reinforcing the RSA's role in fostering Scottish visual culture and national debate.