Like many University of Bristol students, I wanted to explore the RWA but never found the time until my exams finished in December. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that students get free entry (provided they show their UCard), so I grabbed one of my friends staying over Christmas and made a day out of it.
For anyone interested to go, bear in mind that the RWA is quite big and so it might be good to plan what you're going to see before hand. If it's your first time, I advise going on their website and choosing to see only one of their exhibits, which should be plenty to see for a first visit.
We were intrigued by the sound of ‘Into the Blue’ which the RWA website described as being an exhibition curated by History of Art MA students at UoB, featuring the colour blue and how it's been used by different artists and in different mediums to convey different emotions. As fans of the colour, we were curious to see how our fellow students had approached a broad, yet fascinating theme!
Although the exhibition features just 20-30 pieces, this compact size works in its favour- you can take a small amount of time to explore at your leisure, without feeling overwhelmed.
Going into it, we both expected a lot of sky and sea paintings given blue's natural associations. While saw some really good pieces concerning those themes, it was delightful that they included other things too, most memorably abstract works which added unexpected depth to the exhibition. So for anyone wondering, ‘Into the Blue’ doesn't just feature the same thing over and over again!

What I took away from the exhibition is that I personally interpret a lighter, waterier blue as more melancholic, whereas a darker, deeper blue can make me feel more positive emotions like being relaxed. This really speaks to the effectiveness of the exhibition. Despite its brevity, the featured works and the emotions they evoked varied significantly.


It was certainly interesting to see how the students approached the presentation of the exhibition. One of the themes they explored through the use of blue was religion. Interestingly, they included a piece featuring a depiction of a Pizza Hut, accompanied by a description suggesting that the colours used evoked a sense of spirituality. The explanation highlighted how Pizza Hut is perceived as a warm, communal space where people can come together and find fulfilment. While I found this interpretation unlikely, it was certainly an intriguing choice. Beyond that, the rest of the exhibition was thoughtfully curated and left a meaningful impression.


I very much recommend visiting the RWA and I especially recommend seeing ‘Into the Blue’. Not to mention, the architecture is absolutely gorgeous, inside and out. It may even motivate you to finish your deadlines! My friend and I had a lovely time. It would be a shame for students not to go, seeing as it is so close to campus and tickets are free. At the very least, try their cute café!
‘Into the Blue’ is at the RWA until the 2nd February.