The RBSA Permanent Collection consists of over 850 works by past and present Members & Associates of the RBSA, and artists who have a connection with the Society or the Midlands.
The RBSA Permanent Collection
The Collection aims to gather and conserve objects significant to the history of the RBSA and to Birmingham’s wider artistic heritage. In addition to ongoing acquisitions, each new elected Member of the RBSA donates one ‘Diploma Work’ to the RBSA Archive to ensure the collection continues to grow.
The Permanent Collection includes paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, ceramics and jewellery. These objects are kept securely in temperature and humidity controlled conditions and the RBSA follows rigorous procedures to maintain Accredited Museum status.
Highlights of the Collection
Usually, the archive is run by a team of volunteers who look after the collection, conduct research and respond to archive enquiries. While the RBSA Gallery is closed, we reflect on the Collections Highlights project developed to celebrate 200 years of Art, Artists and Audiences in Birmingham.
The Highlights of the Collection was selected and researched by members of the RBSA’s Volunteer Archive Team in 2012-14.
Enjoying the Collection from home
Click on the images below to enlarge them and scroll down to see the comments for more information about each piece of art.
Anthony Sawbridge PPRBSA, The Balloon Seller Aubrey Beardlsey, How Sir Belvidere Cast the Sword Excalibur into the Water Benjamin Creswick RBSA, John Ruskin Bernard Fleetwood-Walker PPRBSA, Caroline Bernard Fleetwood-Walker PPRBSA, Joan Woollard Bernard Sleigh RBSA, Rough Sea at Tintagel David Cox Senior, Bolton Abbey David Cox, Lane at Harborne David Harban, RBSA, A Different View Lichfield Cathedral Dawn Imogen Sallie Cookson, The Old Florentine Elaine Hind, Blue Pot with Iris Elizabeth Ridgway RBSA, Summer nap Emmy Bridgwater, Stark Encounter Frederick Thomas Lines, Self portrait Frederick Thomas Lines, Tettenhall Church Harold Henry Holden RBSA, March Heinke Jenkins RBSA, We never had it so good Henry Harris Lines, Bridgnorth Hilary Paynter Hon. RBSA, Snowdonia Jacqué Wakely RBSA, Tidal Wave Joan Woollard PPRBSA, Jonah and the big fish Joan Woollard PPRBSA, The Races John Salt Hon. RBSA, Pink Trailer John Shakespeare RBSA, The Square Brush Technique Joseph Southall PPRBSA, The Old Portico June Dudleston, Forest in Fall Lyall Watson, Portrait of Henry Moore Percy Hipkiss RBSA, Design for a matching set of costume jewellery entitled ‘Sea Fantasy’ Peter Gross RBSA, Peter Gross Peter Wareing RBSA, Tall Vase Rachel Ricketts RBSA, Caprice Richard Chattock, Tabbing the Blast Furnace Robert Ball, The Quarry at Rowley Regis Sir Henry Rushbury (1889-1968), La Rochelle Trevor Denning RBSA, RBSA Gallery, New Street Usha Khosla RBSA, Bowl Walter Jenks Morgan RBSA, The Meeting Place William Breakspeare, Newlyn Woman William John Wainwright PPRBSA, Portrait of John Keeley RBSA William Roden RBSA (1817-1892), Head of a woman
Would you like to learn more about the RBSA Archive Collection? Tell us in the comments.
About Us
The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) is an artist-led charity which supports artists and promotes engagement with the visual arts through a range of exhibitions, events and workshops.
The RBSA runs an exhibition venue – the RBSA Gallery – in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter, a short walk from the city centre.
The gallery is currently closed due to Covid-19.
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