At ROSL we have a dedicated exhibition space hosting a rolling programme of exhibitions, presenting contemporary works of art in a historic setting. Our visual arts programme aims to expand our audience, while offering exhibition opportunities to early career artists. 

Annually we offer two creative residencies for artists who are from Commonwealth or former Commonwealth countries who have never studied or exhibited in the UK. The two-month residencies at The Art House in Wakefield culminate with exhibition opportunities, expanding the reach of ROSL beyond our London clubhouse.

 

LoungeOReilly10

First Look, installation view, ROSL Clubhouse, London, 2021

 

Brief History

 

1984

The ROSL Annual Exhibition begins. The exhibition selected the work of artists from the Commonwealth to be presented in a single, uniting exhibition in the UK.

 

1985

ROSL begin annually purchasing a trophy from a graduating student in MA Ceramics and Glass at the Royal College of Art to be awarded to the recipient of the Lorna Viol Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Musician from Overseas in the Annual Music Competition. 

 

2000

The ROSL Annual Exhibition was restructured, presenting a group show at the OXO in London, while introducing a month-long residency for some of the overseas artists to come to the UK and stay at Hospitalfield in Arbroath.

 

2013

The visual art residencies were refreshed to offer early career artists from within the Commonwealth the opportunity to develop a public project with a partner visual arts organisation. For a full list of alumni and partners see our Visual Arts Alumni page. Exhibitions began to take place regularly at Over-Seas House, London and in our Edinburgh location on Princes Street.

 

2018

Our visual art residencies were once again restructured to have artists apply via an open call, to work with The Art House in Wakefield and to have two artists spend a longer period in the UK. ROSL continued to present a rolling programme of exhibitions at Over-Seas House, London. 

 

2019

The ROSL Photography Competition was launched, inviting photographers from all over the world to submit images that link to the Commonwealth and the theme of Style. 

 

2021

ROSL ARTS commissions Nisha Duggal, Heritage and Our Communities, an Artist-in-Residence project by ROSL ARTS in partnership with Riverley Primary School in Leyton, East london (part of Griffin Schools Trust) kindly supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. ROSL Photography Competition goes from strength to strength, doubling in size with over 500 entries from 40 countries.

 

2022

Partnering with Vintage Publishing, Square Peg and Sotheby's Institute of Art, ROSL launches Muse: The Exhibition (including a loan from the Estate of Francis Bacon) with a series of related talks and events; hosting a Sotheby's Institute panel discussionQ&A life drawing with Lucian Freud muse Sue Tilley and the book launch of art historian Ruth Millington's aforementioned publication 'Muse'.