Simone Leigh

At once monumental and intimate, Simone Leigh's sculptures command an extraordinary presence. The American artist transforms bronze and ceramics into powerful and layered explorations of Black identity, drawing on forms rooted in African and diasporic histories. In 2022, Leigh made history as the first Black woman to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale. This landmark exhibition in London is her first major UK presentation and the largest and most ambitious worldwide.

Spanning sculpture, installation, film and performance, Leigh reimagines the monument through Black feminist thought, vernacular traditions and cultural memory. Bringing together works from across more than two decades – including new and previously unseen sculptures – the exhibition opens with a major new sculptural installation for the Royal Academy's Annenberg Courtyard, freely accessible to the public.

The exhibition continues beyond the Main Galleries and the courtyard with Loophole of Retreat, Leigh’s ongoing artwork of dialogue and collective exchange. The programme will convene artists, scholars, writers, performers, filmmakers and activists from around the world to celebrate the creative vitality of Black feminisms. This exhibition offers an unforgettable encounter with one of the foremost artists of our time.

Our Friends preview days take place 15 September, 10am–6pm, 16 September, 10am–6pm, and 17 September, 10am–9pm.