Bath’s free 121st Open Exhibition opens this autumn

Earthy colours, architectural forms and hieroglyph-like symbols characterise the work of Basil Beattie RA, the invited artist at this year’s Bath Society of Artists 121st Open Exhibition.

The free exhibition runs at Victoria Art Gallery in Bath from 19 September to 7 November 2026. It is open to the general public and is likely to appeal particularly to art enthusiasts, collectors and visitors interested in discovering emerging talent. Many of the original works will also be available to buy.

Bath and North East Somerset Council’s announcement confirms that the annual show will bring together painting, printmaking, sculpture and mixed-media work selected from open submissions by artists across the country. Because the selection process begins afresh each year, the contents of the gallery change completely between editions.

Basil Beattie brings an Abstract Expressionist focus

Beattie, a British painter and printmaker associated with Abstract Expressionism in the UK, is the Bath Society of Artists’ Invited Artist for the 121st exhibition. His gestural work frequently uses natural, earthy tones alongside motifs drawn from architecture, symbols and hieroglyphs.

He was given a dedicated room at Tate Britain in 2007 and continues to practise. His inclusion gives visitors an opportunity to encounter work by an artist whose career has extended across generations of post-war and contemporary British art.

The wider exhibition is not limited to established names. It combines work by respected local, regional and national members of the society with submissions from aspiring non-members. This mix is central to its role as an open exhibition: known artists and newcomers are considered within the same annual selection process.

This year’s prize judges are Heather Jane Wallace, founder and director of Heritage Courtyard Gallery and Studios, and artist Ros Cuthbert. Claire Todd will join the two-dimensional selection panel, while Tom Waugh will contribute to the three-dimensional selection process.

Original art can be viewed, bought and voted on

Visitors will be able to purchase many of the displayed works, with the organisers saying that prices will cover a range of budgets. No individual artwork prices have been published in the event announcement, so anyone considering a purchase will need to check the information displayed at the gallery.

The Public Choice Prize also gives visitors a direct role in the exhibition. Audiences can vote for a favourite piece, with the results determining the year’s public winner.

Artists selected for the show can compete for £5,500 in cash prizes and more than £800 in vouchers. That award programme, worth more than £6,000 overall, is intended to support creative talent and helps the exhibition attract submissions from beyond Bath.

An exhibition with more than 120 years of history

The Bath Society of Artists was founded in 1904 by 26 artists and now has around 125 members. Its Annual Open Exhibition has provided a platform for established and emerging artists for more than 120 years.

Across that history, the society has attracted the interest of British artists including Walter Sickert, John Singer Sargent, Philip Wilson Steer, Gilbert Spencer, Patrick Heron, Mary Fedden, William Scott and David Inshaw. The continuing open-submission format allows the organisation to retain that historical identity while introducing a different body of contemporary work every year.

Dates and visitor information

• Event: Bath Society of Artists 121st Open Exhibition
• Venue: Victoria Art Gallery, Bath
• Dates: 19 September to 7 November 2026
• Entry: Free
• Buying artwork: Many exhibited pieces will be available for purchase
• Audience participation: Visitors can vote in the Public Choice Prize

The supplied announcement does not specify exhibition opening times, advance-booking requirements, transport advice or accessibility arrangements. Bath and North East Somerset Council directs visitors to the Victoria Art Gallery website for current information before attending.

Source: Bath and North East Somerset Council Newsroom