The Royal Astronomical Society has partnered with the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) to launch a new exhibition which explores humanity's enduring fascination with the cosmos through an extraordinary blend of historic artefacts and contemporary artworks.
Cosmos: The art of observing Space, which opens today (24 January) and runs until 19 April 2026 at the RWA in Bristol, invites visitors to experience the awe, wonder and imagination sparked by space exploration – past, present and future.
Curated by visual artist, Ione Parkin RWA, the exhibition brings together a body of work by over 30 contemporary artists alongside loan items from public collections.
The artists are inspired by themes of astronomy, cosmology, astrophysics, planetary science, space-exploration, solar dynamics and celestial mechanics.
There will be pieces by leading names such as Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, Sir Christopher Le Brun PPRA Hon. RWA, Cornelia Parker CBE OBE RA, Wolfgang Tillmans RA, and RWA Academicians, alongside emerging voices exploring the mysteries of the universe through paint, sculpture, installation and digital media.
Complementing these contemporary works will be rare and remarkable artefacts from the RAS and other national collections. They include historical Moon drawings and star maps, as well as beautifully crafted celestial globes.
To celebrate the exhibition, the RAS will also be hosting Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space Art and Science Symposium at Burlington House from 10am-4pm on Saturday 28 February. It will feature talks by astronomers, archivists and a selection of the exhibiting artists.
Further information about the exhibition, including ticket prices, can be found here. To find out more about the symposium, click here.