SSA 127th ANNUAL EXHIBITION
SSA 127th Annual Exhibition: Honouring Legacy, Embracing the Future at RSA Bicentenary Edinburgh, January 2026
The Society of Scottish Artists (SSA) proudly announces its 127th Annual Exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) Upper Galleries from Sunday 11 January to Wednesday 4 February 2026. This landmark exhibition is a highlight of Scotland’s 2026 cultural calendar, as the SSA enters its 135th year and joins the RSA in marking its bicentenary.
A Historic Partnership: RSA 200 Celebrations
In recognition of its lifelong association with the Royal Scottish Academy, the SSA is honoured to exhibit three works from the RSA collection—by its first three presidents, Robert Noble RSA, Robert Buchan Nisbet RSA, and James Cadenhead—at this year’s show. These important historical works underscore the SSA’s foundational and ongoing role in Scottish contemporary art.
To further commemorate this shared history, an essay by RSA Documentation Officer Robin H Rodger has been commissioned for the occasion of the RSA200: Celebrating Together, 2026.
A Platform for Experimentation and Inclusion
Founded in 1891 with a mission to promote experimentation and the “adventurous spirit” in Scottish art, the SSA has always been an inclusive society. That ethos continues today:
- The 127th exhibition features works engaging with social and political commentary, sustainability, and nature.
- Artists work across disciplines—blending handmade techniques with new technologies, textiles, and craft with challenging themes, along with film works that evoke a range of human emotions.
- The exhibition welcomes both emerging new Graduates and established artists renowned worldwide.
Record Numbers, Rich Diversity
This year, over 2,000 works were submitted through the General Call, with 229 artists selected to exhibit, including: 10 New Graduate Awardees and 10 selected from the installations call.
Exhibition highlights include:
- Christopher Ivor Adam (New Graduate, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee): A Paisley-born artist and composer, Adam’s work spans drawing, painting, printmaking, and filmmaking. His practice explores the lyrical and mythic aspects of human culture, from ancient songs to contemporary fictions, reflecting on our collective desire to belong and make sense of the world. Adam is also known for his cryptic crosswords in The Times and The Financial Times under the pseudonym ‘Magnum’.
- Susan Pearson (Invited Artist): A multi-disciplinary artist based in Shetland, Pearson explores the embodied power of making by using foraged materials to investigate the connections between art, archaeology, and philosophy. Her work is inspired by natural forms, landscape, and the human figure, often resulting in ambiguous, dreamlike narratives. For the 127th Annual Exhibition, Pearson will present The Fates—an immersive installation inspired by myth, featuring abstracted furniture, clay figures, and hand-spun wool, evoking a muted, surreal vision of destiny and memory. Pearson was previously awarded the SSA Award for her piece Becoming Island at the 126th Annual Exhibition.
- Divya Sharma (Selected Artist): A London-based British Indian artist, Sharma’s evocative tapestries reimagine vanished homelands and forgotten peoples, drawing on her Tamil heritage and collective memory. Her work weaves together ancestral knowledge, myths, and rituals, creating atmospheric pieces that reflect on migration, femininity, and cultural legacy. Sharma is the founder of the Neulinge Collective and the Post Colonials Collective, and her work has been widely exhibited and recognised across the UK and internationally.
- Patrick Morales-Lee (SSA & SGFA Prize Winner): Morales-Lee creates powerful drawings exploring themes of motherhood, belonging, and trauma. His work blends archetypal female figures with his own image, delving into the complexities of identity and family. Morales-Lee has exhibited alongside renowned artists such as Antony Gormley and Gavin Turk, and his work is held in prominent collections including The Soho House. He was awarded the SSA prize at the Society of Graphic Fine Art’s (SGFA) 104th Annual Open Exhibition in London, earning a place in this year’s Annual and a one-year SSA artist membership.
A Society Evolving: New Status and Name
2026 marks a pivotal year for the SSA. The organisation is transitioning to a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), ensuring greater stability and alignment with modern Scottish charities. Members have also approved an updated constitution and a change of name to the Scottish Society of Artists, reflecting a vision of inclusivity and a membership that now spans Scotland and the world.
Commitment to Artists and Innovation
With over 2,000 active members, the SSA is one of Scotland’s oldest and largest artist-led organisations. The Society remains wholly committed to building on the foundation of its rich history while continually experimenting and challenging tradition.
Partnerships and International Opportunities
- Engramme Exchange (Canada): SSA member Paul Furneax will travel to Engramme in the New Year, representing Scottish art internationally.
- Moray School of Art Residency: Launched this year, with SSA artist Georgie Fay as the first participant.
Awards and Recognitions
The exhibition celebrates emerging talent, with 10 New Graduate Awardees selected for 2026.
A Message from SSA Leadership
We are excited to bring to the public, the Society of Scottish Artists’ 127th Annual Exhibition, held at the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, opening on Sunday 11th January 2026
Our Annual Exhibition is a great opportunity to see established artists currently working across Scotland and abroad, as well as an exciting introduction to the newest emerging artists from our recently selected winners of the New Graduate Awards. We are very proud to continue our tradition of giving diverse and ambitious contemporary artists; SSA members and non-members alike, a platform to display their practices and how they relate to the world we live in.
As well as showcasing contemporary art in Scotland, this year our Annual Exhibition will coincide with the RSA’s 200th year, so in the spirit of this anniversary, we will have elements of the show that reflect on our Society’s history, from our emergence as a society to where we are now.
Luke Vinnicombe, Co-President SSA
Visitor Information
Venue: RSA Upper Galleries, Royal Scottish Academy, The Mound, Edinburgh EH2 2EL
Dates: Sunday 11 January – Wednesday 4 February 2026
Opening Hours: Monday–Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
Tickets: £5 entry | £4 concession | Free for under 16s and SSA Members | Free entry for all on Mondays