Following hot on the heels of curating the recent exhibition @rwabristol - Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space - I’m delighted that 2 of my works have been included in the 200th Annual Exhibition @royal_scottish_academy in Edinburgh. The ‘In Time’ section of the exhibition has been curated by sculptor and Academician Annie Cattrell @anniecattrell and celebrates the 300th anniversary of the birth of James Hutton (1726-1797), the ‘father of modern geology’; reflecting on philosophical and physical foundations, Cattrell has included the work of artists interested in ideas of geology and deep time.
Sublimation of Mars Polar Ice (mixed media on paper, 110 x 90 cm framed in a deep white frame, 2025) is inspired by the fracturing carbon-dioxide/water ice on the southern polar regions of the planet revealing the iron-rich earth beneath. This work comes out of my collaboration with astronomers over a 10-year period.
Fissure (mixed media on paper, 54 x 50cm framed, 2025) is part of my series of works resembling planetary landscapes - barren, hyper cold regions.
The 200th RSA Annual Exhibition is held in the RSA Upper & Lower Galleries, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL
9th May-14th June 2026
Free entry | Accessibility
Open Mon-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5
#mixedmediapainting #contemporaryart #geology #spacescience #interdisciplinaryartist #workonpaper #openexhibitions
‘Fusion’ is one of the works on show in ‘Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space’, the current exhibition @rwabristol .
This painting was inspired by solar dynamics and the intense heat and turbulent motion of super-heated plasma. In physics, plasma is described as the ‘fourth state of matter’ - not solid, liquid or gas. I wanted to convey an impression of physics at work: of intense energy being emitted and absorbed. With thanks for the fascinating conversations with solar physicist, Helen Mason at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge @helenmason007
The Cosmos exhibition includes the work of over 30 contemporary artists alongside historical items from public collections @royalastrosoc@astro_librarian@royalmuseumsgreenwich@brlsi@royalacademyarts@hsmoxford
The curation of the exhibition has been a major undertaking for me over the last 2+ years and I am so grateful for the support of the artists, science collaborators, the RWA staff, volunteers and our partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society.
The exhibition continues until 19th April and a warm welcome awaits you at gallery (closed on Mondays).
Fusion
2025
Oil on canvas
160 x 130cm
#artscience #interdisciplinary #solarphysics #contemporarypainting #research
✨ Explore hand-sewn textile squares of the Cosmos ✨
From hand sewn image of the Nebra sky disc to an embroidered solar eclipse the @royalastrosoc bicentenary patchwork quilt features contributions from over 70 individual makers, each stitching their own piece of Astronomical history.
We caught up with Sian Prosser, library at the Royal Astronomical Society to find out more about the quilt.
The quilt features in our current exhibition, Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space. See it alongside works by major contemporary voices, including:
🌒 Yinka Shonibare CBE RA
🌒 Sir Christopher Le Brun PPRA Hon. RWA
🌒Cornelia Parker CBE OBE RA
🌒 Wolfgang Tillmans RA
📅 On display at the RWA until 19 April
#SpaceArt #Astronomy #Cosmos #Universe
☄️ Billion’s of Years in the Making: Meet the Krasnojarsk Pallasite
The oldest object ever to be displayed at the RWA!
Discover the Krasnojarsk Pallasite—the first extraterrestrial object ever described by science.
🎨Join us behind the scenes as curator @ioneparkin RWA joins Matt Williams @brlsi unbox the Pallasite. Having spent time studying the meteorite’s geology, Ione created her work, Meteorite Matters I – VI
🌌The pallasite and Ione’s work are part of our current exhibition, Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space. See it alongside works by major contemporary voices, including:
Yinka Shonibare CBE RA
Sir @_christopherlebrun PPRA hon. RWA
Cornelia Parker CBE OBE RA
@wolfgang_tillmans RA
Joined by RWA Academicians and emerging artists, these creators explore the universe through paint, sculpture, installation, and digital media.
On display at the RWA until 19 April.
#BritishScienceWeek2026 #science #thingstodoinbristol
Thank you to Dr Katy Barrett for the wonderful review of the current exhibition @rwabristol . I curated the Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space exhibition to gather the work of over 30 contemporary artists inspired by astronomy, cosmology and planetary science, juxtaposed with a fascinating group of historical items from the public collections of @royalastrosoc@royalmuseumsgreenwich@brlsi@hsmoxford and @royalacademyarts
/blog/cosmos-the-art-and-science-of-observing-space
Image: Ione Parkin RWA, Amorphous Ice, mixed media on paper, 90cm x 110cm, 2025
Amorphous Ice is the most common form of ice in the universe and is found on comets and icy moons. It has a randomised structure due to rapid cooling. This textured mixed media painting evokes for me a vast frozen and barren terrain in the depths of planetary chill.
#artandscience #contemporary painting #worksonpaper #interdisciplinary #painting #curation #texture
The Cosmos Symposium at the Royal Astronomical Society in London yesterday was a wonderful event in connection with the Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space exhibition at the Royal West of England Academy. I invited a selection of the exhibiting artists, a collaborating astronomer and the RAS librarian to give presentations. It was fascinating to hear more about their work and the audience was enthralled. Huge thanks to @royalastrosoc for hosting this event and for the warm welcome. Images include 2 of my paintings - Fusion and Amorphous Ice - followed by @eyresusan@anniecattrell @ @joloveart and @ianchamberlainartist Other speakers included @k.bernstein2@_lyndalaird@_christopherlebrun@louise.beer@amaurytriaud@royalastrosoc President, Mike Lockwood and RAS Librarian, Sian Prosser @astro_librarian .
The exhibition is held at the RWA in Bristol until 19 April. @rwabristol #artscience #artist #interdisciplinaryartist
Join us at the RWA for an Artbar conversation with Ione Parkin RWA (Curator of Cosmos: the art of observing Space), and exhibiting artist Simon Hitchens RWA.
Thursday 5 March, 6pm for 6.30pm. Ends 8.30pm.
Hear the artists talk about their work and the Cosmos exhibition, followed by an opportunity to ask questions.
Artbar brings Bristol’s artist community together to talk about art, ideas and connections.
Tickets via RWA website. Link in bio
Come and join us for an art-science symposium to celebrate a new exhibition, ‘Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space’, launched in partnership with the @rwabristol and curated by @ioneparkin .
📆 28 February
⏰ 10am - 4pm
🎟️ Via the link in our bio
🪐 We are delighted to loan twenty items from our collections to @rwabristol as part of ‘Cosmos: the art of observing Space’ until 19 April 🪐
Curated by Ione Parkin RWA, Cosmos celebrates our enduring fascination with space, bringing together both contemporary and historic artists.
This post features one of the artworks we have loaned: James Nasmyth's chalk drawing of the Maurolycus and Barocius lunar craters which he displayed at a meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1844.
This exhibition will also feature 'Measuring the Heavens' by @k.bernstein2 and 'An imperfect account of a comet' by @_lyndalaird !
The Royal Astronomical Society has partnered with the Royal West of England Academy on this exhibition which offers a unique journey through time, imagination, and inquiry - inviting you to experience the awe, wonder, and curiosity that the cosmos continues to inspire.
Featured artists include:
Louise Beer 🌖 Kate Bernstein 🌖 Annie Cattrell RSA FRSS🌖 Ian Chamberlain RWA RE🌖 Richard Cox 🌖 Geraldine Cox 🌖 Susan Derges Hon. RWA 🌖 Otto Dettmer 🌖 Sarah Duncan 🌔 Susan Eyre 🌕 Anna Gillespie RWA MRSS 🌖 Tom Hammick 🌖 Alex Hartley 🌖 Simon Hitchens RWA FRSS 🌖 Janette Kerr PPRWA Hon. RSA 🌖 Melanie King PhD🌖 Tania Kovats 🌖 Ulrike Kuchner PhD MFA 🌖 Lynda Laird 🌖 Sir Christopher Le Brun PPRA Hon. RWA 🌖 Johanna Love 🌖 Gillian Adair McFarland 🌖 Rachael Nee RWA 🌖 Pale Blue Dot Collective (Louise Beer and John Hooper) 🌖 Cornelia Parker CBE OBE RA 🌖 Ione Parkin RWA 🌖 Michael Porter RWA 🌖 Ben Rowe MRSS RWA 🌖 Robin Sewell 🌖 Jane Sheppard 🌖 Yinka Shonibare CBE RA 🌖 Karl Singporewala RWA RIBA 🌖 Wolfgang Tillmans RA
️🎟 Tickets from £11
🔗 rwa.org.uk/cosmos
📅 From 24 January 2026
🪐 Exhibition catalogue with foreword by astrophysicist, author and broadcaster, Chris Lintott | rwa.org.uk/shopcosmos
📷 Michael Porter RWA, Impossible Landscape 15-05-25, 2025
@rwabristol@royalastrosoc@ioneparkin@brlsi@royalmuseumsgreenwich@frithstreetgallery@hsmoxford@royalacademyarts
#RWAArtGallery #RWACosmos #WhatsOnBristol #VisitBristol #Astronomy #SpaceExploration #Astrophotography #SpaceArt
We’re delighted to share that CLOSE Gallery artist @simonhitchens RWA is featured in ‘Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space’ at @rwabristol , presenting two works, including the large-scale sculpture PASSAGE.
Also included are Alex Hartley @alex._hartley and Tania Kovats @kovats66 , both currently showing alongside Hitchens with CLOSE Gallery in the acclaimed exhibition After Nature at @propositionstudios Bethnal Green, on view until 14 Feb 2026.
Curated by @ioneparkin in partnership with @royalastrosoc , Cosmos explores our enduring fascination with the universe through contemporary art and historic astronomical artefacts.
This exhibition holds particular personal significance for CLOSE Gallery, with curator Ione Parkin RWA being a long-standing friend of our gallery Director Freeny Yianni, reflecting a shared commitment to thoughtful, research-led artistic practice.
We warmly encourage visitors to experience this exceptional exhibition and discover the work of so many remarkable artists within this rich curatorial context. Opens tomorrow 24 January and runs until 19 April 2026.
📷 1. Michael Porter RWA, Impossible Landscape 15-05-25
📷 2. Simon Hitchens RWA, PASSAGE
#RWAArtGallery #SimonHitchens #TaniaKovats #AlexHartley #IoneParkin
