Pictured above: Mesmerised by Viktorov’s Decorating the New Year Tree Adebanji Alade 50x40cm £3500
The Royal Institute of Oil Painters’ 2026 Annual Exhibition will showcase 320 works as sales of original oil paintings rise by 100 per cent since 2022.
Demand for original figurative oil paintings is continuing to grow, according to the Federation of British Artists (FBA), which reports a 100 per cent increase in sales of oil paintings at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters’ (ROI) Annual Exhibition since 2022.
The figures have been released ahead of the 2026 exhibition, titled Winter Rituals, which opens at Mall Galleries on Thursday 26 November. The event will feature 320 paintings by established ROI members and artists selected through a competitive open submission process.
Addi Aegisdottir, Creative Director of the FBA, said last year’s exhibition was the Federation’s most successful in terms of sales since its foundation in 1961. She added that submissions of oil paintings had exceeded 2,500 for each of the past four years, reflecting growing interest from artists across the UK and Europe.
The reported increase in demand comes at a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping the creative industries, prompting renewed interest in original, artist-produced work.
‘Beloved Sheepskins’ by Sarah Manolescue ROI £1,200
This year’s theme, Winter Rituals, invites participating artists to explore the traditions, routines and shared experiences associated with the colder months. Subjects include domestic comforts, seasonal gatherings and cultural customs.
ROI President Adebanji Alade said oil paint’s rich qualities and vivid colours made it particularly suited to capturing the nostalgia and emotional significance of winter traditions.
The exhibition will also feature work by Ukrainian artist Denys Gorodnychyi, selected as this year’s invited artist. Drafted into the military, Gorodnychyi was granted permission by Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture to continue working as an artist, representing the country through its cultural sector.
ROI Honorary Secretary Luis Morris said the invitation aimed to introduce Gorodnychyi’s work to a wider audience. The artist will contribute three oil paintings to the exhibition.
The ROI, the only major national art society dedicated exclusively to oil painting, will make all 320 exhibited works available to purchase both at Mall Galleries and online.
The exhibition runs as a showcase of contemporary figurative oil painting in the UK and Europe, while highlighting the medium’s continuing commercial and artistic appeal.
Art purchases can be made in-person or online. More details on the website
Details:
Dates: 26th November – 12th December 2026
Time: 10am – 5pm daily
Location: North, East, and West Galleries, Mall Galleries, London
Admission: £7 (Free for Friends of Mall Galleries and under 25s, concessions available.) No booking required
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