Articles
Sam Phillips
RA Exhibitions
3 months ago
Exploring Finland in the footsteps of Helene Schjerfbeck
To coincide with our exhibition of works by Helene Schjerfbeck, Sam Phillips returned to the places the Finnish artist called home, and along the way saw what Finland’s art scene had to offer.
Artists
5 months ago
Travel: on the Bauhaus trail, from Weimar to Berlin
To mark 100 years of the legendary art school, Sam Phillips follows its fortunes from Weimar, via Dessau, to the German capital.
RA Exhibitions
< 3 years ago
Luc Tuymans on Brexit, Ensor and the establishment
Belgium’s leading contemporary painter, who curates the RA’s James Ensor exhibition, tells Sam Phillips why it is time to reassess Ensor’s art.
RA Recommends
< 3 years ago
What to see at Frieze 2016
From Assyrian sculpture to a recreation of an artist’s atelier, the RA’s Charles Saumarez Smith and Sam Phillips pick their favourite things at this year’s Frieze fairs in London.
RA Recommends
3 years ago
From Soho to sunshine: the Francis Bacon you never knew
We know him as the doyen of dingy 1960s Soho. But a major exhibition in Monaco reveals the British painter in a more Mediterranean light, showing how he drew inspiration from the French Riviera. The editor of RA Magazine takes a visit.
RA Recommends
< 4 years ago
Your A to Z guide to Frieze week
As an alphabet of art opens in London to coincide with the Frieze art fairs, we give you the ABC guide to the top shows to see.
RA Exhibitions
< 4 years ago
Ai of the tiger: Sam Phillips meets Ai Weiwei in his Beijing studio
Fearless and uncompromising, Ai Weiwei’s art challenges cultural values, confronts injustices and pushes materials to their limit. Sam Phillips talks to the artist about his show at the RA, which he was not expecting to be able to attend.
RA Recommends
4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 5 – 11 June
From live art performances directed by Lu Kemp to James Turrell’s high intensity illuminations at Houghton Hall, we guide you through this week’s top shows.
RA Recommends
> 4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 23 – 28 May
From international photography event Photo London to a Magna Carta tapestry by Cornelia Parker RA, we guide you through the week’s top art events.
Artists
> 4 years ago
Stephen Cox RA and Eric Parry RA: set in stone
Art and architecture combine on a corner of London’s St James’s, where Stephen Cox RA has integrated sculpture into Eric Parry RA’s building. Sam Phillips reports.
RA Recommends
> 4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 8 – 15 May
From Sarah Lucas’s erotic sculptures at the Venice Biennale to Jeff Koons at Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, we guide you through the week’s top art events.
RA Recommends
> 4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 15 – 22 April
From Prunella Clough’s beautiful industrial landscapes at Osborne Samuel to Modigliani’s figures at the Estorick Collection.
RA Recommends
> 4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 4 – 11 April
From political art at Nottingham Contemporary to Ravilious’s engravings in Dulwich, here are five shows to see this week.
RA Recommends
> 4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 27 March – 3 April
From Greek sculptures at the British Museum to Helena Almeida’s inhabited drawings.
RA Recommends
> 4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 21 – 28 March
From abstract paintings at the National Portrait Gallery to a British art sale at Sotheby’s.
Artists
> 4 years ago
Chantal Joffe: Me and my mentors
In the latest in our series on turning points in artists’ careers, Chantal Joffe RA tells Sam Phillips about the impact two teachers had on her work.
RA Recommends
> 4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 6 – 13 March
From Impressionist paintings at The National Gallery to mixed media installations at Baltic.
RA Recommends
> 4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 27 February – 6 March
From a kayak at The Barbican to sex shop objects at Transition Gallery.
RA Recommends
> 4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 20 – 26 February
From sublime salt prints at Tate Britain to textile sculptures at the Hayward Gallery.
RA Recommends
> 4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 6 – 12 February
From Peruvian Huacos and Japanese netsuke to the portraits of Marlene Dumas.
RA Recommends
> 4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 30 January – 5 February
From haunting paintings at David Zwirner to an assemblage of ideas and images at Victoria Miro.
RA Recommends
> 4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 23 – 29 January
From Christian Marclay’s return to White Cube to progressive paintings by RA alumni.
RA Recommends
> 4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 19 - 25 January
Walk the RA Recommends tour or visit the one-stop-shop that is the London Art Fair.
RA Recommends
> 4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 12 - 18 January
From an abundance of abstraction across London to impressionistic cityscapes of New York.
Artists
> 4 years ago
Diana Armfield RA on her art epiphany
As her husband’s health began to fail, painter Diana Armfield RA began to paint French and Italian scenes using sketches she had made during their travels.
Opinion
> 4 years ago
Connecting 20th-century Scottish artists to a golden Russian cigarette case in six steps
Sam Phillips investigates the six degrees of separation between an Edinburgh garden and the influence of Pop art on Communist Russia.
RA Recommends
> 4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 5 – 11 December
From William Blake in Oxford to ‘the next big thing’ in Manchester.
RA Recommends
> 4 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 28 November – 4 December
From drawings of light at the Science Museum to animals under threat at the Old Sorting Office.
RA Recommends
< 5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 21 - 27 November
From Maggi Hambling’s expressive paintings of waves to a presentation of the photography of conflict at Tate Modern.
RA Exhibitions
< 5 years ago
How to read an Anselm Kiefer
Rich in both material and meaning, the powerful paintings of the German artist reward repeated viewing. We take a deeper look at ‘Black Flakes’, one of the works in the show.
RA Recommends
< 5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 14 - 20 November
From Scandinavian scenes of nature and a 1980s take on Russian geometric shapes to prize-winning portrait photography.
RA Recommends
< 5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 7 – 13 November
From Post-Impressionist views of British Columbia to ground-breaking design from the RCA.
Opinion
< 5 years ago
Urgent appeal to save William Blake’s cottage
The country has until 28 November to donate, if the Blake Society is to transform his seaside cottage into a permanent home for the artist-poet.
Opinion
< 5 years ago
Performance art takes centre stage at Frieze London
Live art – a medium that grew out of opposition to the art market – now takes pride of place at this year’s Frieze London art fair.
RA Recommends
< 5 years ago
Frieze special: What not to miss this fortnight
RA Magazine’s Sam Phillips picks 20 of the best Frieze week openings and events.
RA Recommends
< 5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 3 – 9 October
From the Turner Prize shortlist at Tate Britain to the inaugural exhibition at White Rainbow Gallery, dedicated to Japanese art.
RA Recommends
< 5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 28 September - 2 October
From C.R.W. Nevinson’s images of the First World War at Osborne Samuel London, to a new body of work from Kai Althoff at Michael Werner.
RA Recommends
< 5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 19 - 27 September
From fifteenth century China at the British Museum to Raqs Media Collective’s new exhibition at Frith Street Gallery.
Artists
< 5 years ago
David Remfry RA on the major turning point in his practice
A remarkable look into how a chance encounter in 1988 liberated the Academician’s painting practice.
Opinion
< 5 years ago
‘Beyond Limits’ at Chatsworth House
Academicians from Antony Gormley to Bill Woodrow are on display in Sotheby’s annual sculpture show at Chatsworth House.
Opinion
< 5 years ago
New books bring artists and writers together
A quick look at some of the new titles which draw on the connection between art and the written word.
RA Recommends
< 5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 5 – 11 September
From two very different exhibitions at Hauser & Wirth to coastline prints by Norman Ackroyd RA at Mall Galleries.
Opinion
< 5 years ago
Connecting the English Romantic tradition with minimalist photography in six steps
Sam Phillips investigates the six degrees of separation between J.M.W. Turner RA and Hilla Becher’s architectural photography.
RA Recommends
< 5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 5 – 11 September
From an exhibition of the late works of JMW Turner RA at Tate Britain to 1930s fashion photography from Horst P. Horst.
RA Recommends
5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 1 - 7 August
From the beginnings of colour photography in Russia to the powerful and poetic portraits of artist Celia Paul.
RA Recommends
5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 25 - 31 July
From a survey of the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh at Glasgow’s Hunterian to the last days of shows from Sean Scully RA, Phyllida Barlow RA and more.
RA Recommends
5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 18 - 24 July
From marking the centenary of World War I at the Imperial War Museum to Salisbury Cathedral, where John Maine RA’s sculptures are set around the grounds.
Artists
5 years ago
The fruits of Barbara Rae RA’s recent travels go on display
The vibrant colours and traditional textiles of Mexico have weaved their way into the painter’s recent ‘Rebozo’ series.
RA Recommends
5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 11 - 17 July
From Dottori’s Futurist landscapes at the Estorick Collection to Raven Row, where dancers perform the pioneering works of Yvonne Rainer.
RA Recommends
5 years ago
Our pick this week’s art events: 4 - 10 July
From a showcase of Mayfair galleries to the blurred lines of painting and photography by Gerhard Richter and Sigmar Polke.
RA Recommends
5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 27 June - 3 July
From Quentin Blake’s whimsical illustrations to Matthew Barney’s surreal films.
Inside the Academy
5 years ago
Your friend in high places
Chair of the Friends Board of Trustees Denise Wilson talks to Sam Phillips about her role at the Academy.
RA Recommends
5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 20 - 26 June
From the NPG’s annual BP Portrait Award to Academician Fred Cuming’s serene seascapes.
Opinion
5 years ago
Mondrian squared
Two shows shine a new light on the Dutch modern master’s work.
RA Exhibitions
5 years ago
RA Schools students discuss their upcoming final show
As students from the RA Schools prepare for their final show, what are their feelings about leaving after three intensive years of study? Some of them discuss the issues they face with Schools tutor Brian Griffiths and Phyllida Barlow RA, who has been involved in art education for 45 years.
RA Recommends
5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 30 May - 5 June
From ‘the Picasso of India’ to Royal Academician Richard Wilson at the Whitstable Biennale.
RA Recommends
> 5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 23 - 29 May
From Lucian Freud’s superb collection of Frank Auerbach works to a survey of recent American abstract art.
Artists
> 5 years ago
Sam Phillips meets Terry Setch RA
Continuing our series on artists’ epiphanies, Sam Phillips visits the Welsh beach that transformed Setch’s art.
RA Recommends
> 5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 16 - 22 May
From everyday design to the painterly abstraction of Richard Smith’s works on paper.
Opinion
> 5 years ago
Walter Sickert on stage at the Royal Opera House
Liam Scarlett’s contemporary ballet ‘Sweet Violets’ puts Walter Sickert RA’s fascination with murder centre stage.
RA Recommends
> 5 years ago
Our pick of this week’s art events: 2 - 8 May
From the latest Artangel commission to the history of British comics.
RA Recommends
> 5 years ago
Chris Marker, British Surrealism and a last chance to catch Turner and the Sea
From experimental films to Turner’s seascapes, everything worth seeing in the world of art this week.
Opinion
> 5 years ago
Valerie Snobeck at Simon Lee
We visited the Valerie Snobeck exhibition at Simon Lee Gallery, where a new series of the American artist’s ‘peels’ are on display.
RA Recommends
> 5 years ago
Alan Davie RA, totemic structures and Titian’s ghost found at Ham House
From the early works of Alan Davie RA to Pop-inspired sculpture, everything worth seeing in the world of art this week.
RA Recommends
> 5 years ago
Lorna Simpson, Michael Craig-Martin and contortionist office workers
From Lorna Simpson’s photographic explorations of gender and race to hallucinogenic visions of deserts and streetscapes; everything worth seeing this week.
RA Recommends
> 5 years ago
Cézanne, a survey of contemporary painting practice and Veronese at the National Gallery
From the political cartoons of Abdul Raheem Yassir to Venetian Old Masters; everything worth seeing in the world of art this week.
![Günter Brus, Selbstbemalung 1 (Handbemalung-Kopfemalung-kofzumalung) (Self-Painting 1[Hand painting – Head Painting – Total Head Painting])](https://d1inegp6v2yuxm.cloudfront.net/royal-academy/image/upload/c_limit,cs_tinysrgb,dn_72,dpr_auto,f_auto,fl_progressive.keep_iptc,w_400/dtsb1c3xhmkkxguj1ycw.jpg)
RA Recommends
> 5 years ago
Viennese Actionism, Haim Steinbach at the Serpentine and an Academician abroad
From ‘60s performance art to scenes of everyday life in New York; everything worth seeing in the world of art this week.
RA Exhibitions
> 5 years ago
Seeing scents
Fragrance designer Jo Malone has a nose for architecture as well as scent, as we discovered on a visit Kengo Kuma’s aromatic installation in our ‘Sensing Spaces’ exhibition.
RA Recommends
> 5 years ago
The Chapmans, Laure Prouvost, and John Craxton RA
From the art of glass to theatrical environments: everything worth seeing this week.
RA Recommends
> 5 years ago
Hans Josephsohn, Florian Hecker, and House of Voltaire
From Seventies abstract art to a pop-up print shop in Mayfair: everything worth seeing this week.
RA Recommends
> 5 years ago
Sofas, science, and Richard Deacon RA
From found objects to Neo-Gothic interiors: everything worth seeing this week.
RA Recommends
> 5 years ago
Liu Wei, van Gogh, and Maurice Cockrill RA
From iconic sunflowers to architectural installations: everything worth seeing this week.
RA Recommends
> 5 years ago
Warhol, Burroughs and Lynch, Jeremy Deller and Basil Beattie RA
‘Hiker Meat’, Venice in Walthamstow and collage at the Whitechapel: everything worth seeing this week.
RA Recommends
> 5 years ago
Gifted, Victor Burgin, and Sean Scully RA
From 100 works on paper to Asian art in London: everything worth seeing this week.
RA Recommends
> 5 years ago
Stanley Spencer, Frank Gehry, and Alison Wilding RA
From Tate Liverpool’s new Duveen commission to the World Press Photo Exhibition: everything worth seeing this week.
RA Recommends
> 5 years ago
Kevin Francis Gray, Taylor Wessing, and Antony Gormley RA
From photographic portraits to artists’ museums: everything worth seeing this week.
Artists
< 6 years ago
In the studio with Sean Scully RA
Sam Phillips meets Sean Scully RA in his Barcelona studio.
Opinion
> 6 years ago
Giorgio Morandi at the Estorick Collection
Everyday items become remarkable at the hands of one of the great 20th century still life artists.