Mall Galleries is an impressive set of art galleries in an impressively royal location - as befits its members, some of the best artists working in Britain today. Home to the Federation of British Artists, the space exists to empower and champion British artists through a not-for-profit programme of exhibitions and events, prizes and awards, with a focus on figurative art.
The Federation (FBA) traces its origins back to 1823 with the foundation of the first Society of British artists (now known as the Royal Society of British Artists, or RBA). Today the FBA contains over 600 practising artist members across eight of the UK’s leading art societies, each of which holds their annual exhibition at Mall Galleries. These include societies dedicated to making art in oil, portrait, marine, wildlife, watercolour, pastel, printmaking and sculpture, as well as the Hesketh Hubbard Art Society - the largest life-drawing group in London.
The Federation opened its own gallery space in Suffolk Street in 1961, with member societies sharing resources and supporting one another whilst retaining their independent specialisms. Then, in 1971, the FBA gained the royal seal of approval when Queen Elizabeth II opened Mall Galleries in the space occupying the long podium of John Nash’s 1827 Regency Terrace on The Mall, the road between Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace.
Today Mall Galleries is an independent charity (receiving no government funding) which places its members at the core of its mission, with opportunities to create, display and sell their works in exciting open shows. Visitors (who are invited to become friends) can also pour through the extensive FBA library of exhibition catalogues going back to 1961, representing over 1000 years of artistic excellence in Britain.
Details
- Address:
- The Mall (near Trafalgar Square)
- SW1Y 5AS
- Transport:
- Charing Cross station