Find out about RAMM’s contemporary art programme and hear from some of the artists who have created new work inspired by the museum’s collections in a series of short interviews.
We work with artists to enable them to create new work inspired by RAMM’s collections. Sometimes we acquire contemporary art, find out more here: New Acquisitions – Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (rammcollections.org.uk). We also work in collaboration with local visual arts partners such as Exeter Phoenix, Positive Light Projects, and Arts & Culture at the University of Exeter.
For information about exhibiting at RAMM see the reports, plans and policies page. Opportunities for artists are advertised via our news page and through social media channels.
Current & past commissions, displays and exhibitions
Ashanti Hare
River that never rests
19 March 2024 – 22 Sept 2024
RAMM commissioned a performance from Devon-based multidisciplinary artist Ashanti Hare.
Janet Sainsbury
Points in a Constellation
21 Nov 2023 – 19 May 2024
RAMM commissioned Exeter-based contemporary painter Janet Sainsbury in spring 2023.
Michelle Williams Gamaker
The Silver Wave
Until 13 October 2024
RAMM commissioned filmaker Michelle Williams Gamaker.
Earth Spells: Witches of Anthropocene
11 February 2023 – 7 May, 2023
RAMM commissioned artists Emma Hart, Grace Ndiritu, Florence Peake and Lucy Stein for this exhibition.
Photo: Grace Ndiritu, Labour Birth of a New Museum, 2023
Amy Shelton
Biophilia: The Exeter Florilegium
18 Sept 2021 – 21 November 2021
RAMM commissioned Amy Shelton in April 2020 to respond to the first Covid-19 lockdown.
Simon Pope
Here’s to Thee
8 Jan 2023 – 31 January 2023
A joint commission between RAMM and Arts & Culture, University of Exeter, Simon Pope explored the complex cultures of cider-making while collaborating with a team.
Michelle Sank
Breathe
18 Sept 2021 – 21 Nov 2021
RAMM acquired Sank’s photographic series Breathe. It is a documentation of the first Covid-19 lockdown.
Joy Gregory
The Sweetest Thing
29 January 2022 – 5 June 2022
RAMM commissioned Joy Gregory to respond to Devon and Exeter’s relationship with the slave trade which remains ‘hidden in plain sight’.
Naomi Frears
In Other Words
14 September – 7 November 2021
RAMM commissioned Naomi Frears to create a work that examined the expressive and communicative qualities of sleeves and arms.
Léonie Hampton
A Language of Seeds
18 May 2021 – 5 September 2021
RAMM commissioned Léonie Hampton to explore RAMM’s collection of seeds and herbarium sheets.
Sea Garden
16 Nov 2019 – 26 January 2020
RAMM commissioned south west based artist Bryony Gillard for this exhibition, which explored the gendered relationship with the sea and seaweed.
Photo: Bryony Gillard, Unctuous Between Fingers, 2019
Heinrich & Palmer
Aerial
20 July – 3 November 2019
RAMM commissioned Heinrich & Palmer to create a new video for RAMM’s exhibition, Birds without Borders.