Work showcasing an ‘Impressionist Revival’ offering joy and hope in uncertain times is also available to buy…
In these uncertain times, work to be displayed in the NEAC (New English Art Club) Annual Exhibition, appears to return to the loose freedom, luminous colour and playful joy of Impressionism.
This echoes the society’s inaugural exhibition in 1886, which saw artists including George Clausen, Walter Sickert and Stanhope Forbes, showcase work heavily influenced by Impressionism and Post-Impressionism movements. The work is hopeful and lively, playing with colour, light and brushstrokes. The NEAC’s President Patrick Cullen believes this could be down to NEAC artists’ urge to create ‘medicinal artwork’ for our times.
“Schools and movements may come and go,” says Cullen, “but artists always return to the business of looking and observing the world around them for new inspiration, and that doesn’t always mean capturing literal objects or scenes. Historically, the zeitgeist of current society, political feelings and social content (or discontent) is reflected through paint – and this can be either to reflect the times, or to provide a soothing balm of distraction and enjoyment from it. This year’s NEAC exhibition, with its soft pastel palettes, expressive brushwork, and a serene appreciation of the natural world, is certainly the latter.”
Visitors can expect to encounter luminous Mediterranean landscapes, gentle seascapes, romantic still lives, and works that radiate joy, serenity, and painterly mastery – a welcome tonic in today’s turbulent times.
When Impressionist art first appeared in the late 19th century, its uplifting energy emerged during a time of political and social turbulence in France. The country was experiencing major shifts in government, rising tensions between tradition and progress, and a growing desire for individual expression. In this climate of change and uncertainty, Impressionist artists broke away from academic conventions, turning their focus to everyday life, natural light, and the fleeting moments of modern existence.
Their work reflected not only a new way of seeing the world but also a subtle antidote to the instability and transformation shaping society at the time. This Impressionist influence was seen in the NEAC’s foundation, and in its first show. Founded by a group of artists dissatisfied with the entrenched attitudes of the Royal Academy, the club embraced the Parisian avant-garde and went on to become the dominant force in British art in the new century.
The NEAC summer exhibition, which returns to London’s Mall Galleries, is a wonderful, painterly celebration of contemporary figurative art, evocative of the society’s French Impressionist roots.
From Thursday 12th June to Saturday 21st June 2025, visitors are invited to explore a vibrant and joyful collection of over 400 original works – including drawings, paintings and prints – across the North, East and West Galleries of Mall Galleries. The original work featured in the show is also available to view and buy online now.
Alongside NEAC’s long-standing commitment to artistic excellence, 2025 sees the launch of a new £2,000 NEAC Climate Emergency Prize. Awarded to the most compelling artwork addressing the climate crisis, the prize invites artists to reflect on the changing landscapes they rely on for inspiration. A £500 runner-up prize will also be awarded, with judging by Emma Stibbon RA, Chris Packham CBE, Olwyn Bowey RA, and Leon Morrocco RSA.
“If you’re an artist who is inspired by the great variety of nature, and the many different types of landscape that the world offers, you will inevitably be sensitive to the changes taking place in those landscapes; both those changes that cause climate shifts and those that result from them. Deforestation, melting glaciers, industrial farming, loss of biodiversity to name just a few.” continues Cullen, “we are inviting artists to re-engage with the natural world just as those French artists were doing 140 years ago. But now those very landscapes are under threat.”
Full details and booking details are available at: New English Art Club | Events Programme 2025 | Mall Galleries
