When: 12 September 2026 – 3 January 2027

Where: Royal West of England Academy, Queens Road in Clifton, Bristol (BS8 1PX).

ActionSpace artists Declan Leslie and Sharon Adokorach have been selected for the Royal West of England Academy’s 173rd Annual Open Exhibition.

Declan and Sharon are among the artists selected for this year’s Annual Open, which showcases over 500 contemporary works by both emerging and established artists from across the UK and beyond. The exhibition brings together a wide range of disciplines, including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, film, sculpture and architecture.

The exhibition will take place at the RWA in Bristol from 12 September 2026 to 3 January 2027. The Annual Open is the RWA’s largest open exhibition and attracts more than 10,000 visitors each year, with a strong emphasis on supporting artists through the sale of their work.

This year’s selection was overseen by a panel of guest experts alongside RWA Academicians. The guest selectors include Sheryll Catto, Artistic Director and CEO of ActionSpace, alongside creative coach and mentor Ceri Hand and Hales Gallery co-founder Paul Hedge.

We are delighted to see Declan and Sharon’s work included in this year’s exhibition and look forward to celebrating their selection.

Find out more about the 173rd Annual Open Exhibition