Rose Wylie's Historic Royal Academy Exhibition Marks a Milestone for Female Artists
In a landmark moment for the art world, 91-year-old painter Rose Wylie has become the first female artist to stage a solo show in the main galleries of the Royal Academy of Arts, an institution with a 268-year history. Her exhibition, titled The Picture Comes First, opened last week to critical acclaim, featuring exuberant, large-scale canvases that reflect her unique perspective and humour.
A Triumphant Moment Lit Up at the Royal Academy
Wylie recently insisted on being dropped at the front of the Royal Academy building, rather than the back, just to see her name illuminated on the banner hanging across its facade. "I wanted to see it lit up," she remarked with a wry laugh, expressing sheer delight at the sight. The exhibition has been praised as "guaranteed to leave you in a better mood" by Time Out and hailed as "the most invigorating exhibition all year" in a five-star review from The Telegraph.
Breaking Barriers Without Being Defined by Gender
While acknowledging the historic oversight of no female painter previously featured in the main galleries, Wylie emphasises that her work should stand on its own merit. "I think it's high time," she said of the milestone, calling the past exclusion "quite unbelievable and obscene." However, she stresses, "I want people to respond to the paintings. Because that's my business. That's what I want." Her career, which includes studies at Folkestone and Dover School of Art and the Royal College of Art, has been trailblazing, earning her a spot on The Independent's influence list for International Women's Day 2026.
Artistic Freedom and Late-Blooming Success
Wylie's path to recognition was unconventional; she took a 25-year hiatus from painting to raise her three children with her late husband, fellow artist Roy Oxlade. She returned to art with renewed focus and experience, and when asked if she wished success had come earlier, she firmly disagreed. "No. Success, if it comes earlier, can entrap you a bit. If you're older and you've got a lot of work done before anything happens, you've been much freer. I think it's about freedom," she explained. This philosophy has allowed her to create without constraints, embracing a style that some critics, like the late Brian Sewell, once dismissed as childlike, but which she sees as a catalyst for her creativity.
Vibrant Canvases and Cinematic Inspirations
The Picture Comes First showcases Wylie's playful and monumental works, including pieces inspired by everyday moments, her cat Pete, and childhood memories of the Blitz. Highlights include:
- "Pink Skater (Will I Win, Will I Win)" – a dynamic figure skater that seems to burst from the wall.
- "RW Party Clothes" – a self-portrait with grey hair, brimming with joy and featuring an outfit she still wears.
- Paintings drawing from cinema, such as those inspired by Nicole Kidman, Quentin Tarantino films, and Disney's Snow White.
Wylie's love for film continues to fuel her art; she is currently painting Bette Davis and has incorporated her granddaughter into a work alongside historical figures like Mary Queen of Scots. Her ability to straddle various artistic directions has sometimes left the art world puzzled, as noted by Germaine Greer in 2010, but Wylie embraces this ambiguity as part of her unique voice.
Future Ambitions and a Strong Year for Women in Art
Despite her age, Wylie shows no signs of slowing down, with a show scheduled in Paris this April and aspirations for a major museum exhibition. "What I would like is to be in some major museum exhibition, major, major. I'd love that," she said, highlighting the importance of museums as free, accessible cultural spaces. Her achievement comes in a year rich with exhibitions by women, including Tracey Emin's retrospective at Tate Modern and upcoming shows on Frida Kahlo and Ana Mendieta. Wylie quipped, "There's a whole clutch of us, a mass of women. The country will be sick of women in a minute," but quickly added with gusto, "I'm never sick of women."
The Picture Comes First runs at the Royal Academy until 19 April, offering a vibrant celebration of Wylie's groundbreaking career and the enduring power of artistic expression.
