Close Gallery is delighted to announce that several of its artists are featured in the major upcoming exhibition Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space, opening at the Royal West of England Academy (RWA), Bristol, on 24 January 2026 and running until 19 April 2026.
Curated by Ione Parkin RWA, Cosmos explores humanity’s enduring fascination with the universe through an extraordinary dialogue between historic astronomical artefacts and contemporary art. Delivered in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society, the exhibition brings together leading artists whose work responds to observation, imagination, scientific inquiry and the vast scales of time and space.
Close Gallery is proud to see Simon Hitchens included among the exhibition’s featured artists. Known for his meticulous and meditative approach to painting, Hitchens’ work often reflects on light, perception and transcendence which are themes that resonate powerfully within Cosmos’s exploration of celestial observation and human wonder.
The exhibition also features works by Tania Kovats and Alex Hartley, both artists closely associated with Close Gallery. Kovats’ internationally recognised practice frequently engages with cosmology, mapping and the poetic dimensions of scientific knowledge, while Hartley’s work spans sculpture, installation and research-led projects that interrogate humanity’s relationship to the natural and cosmic environment.
To find out more, please visit the RWA website.
The exhibition holds a particularly personal significance for Close Gallery. Curator Ione Parkin RWA is a long-standing friend of Freeny Yianni, founder of Close Gallery, reflecting a shared commitment to thoughtful, research-led artistic practice and sustained dialogue between artists, institutions and audiences.
Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space also includes an extensive public programme, featuring exhibition talks, an interactive Space Lab, and events aligned with the Bristol Light Festival, making it one of the most ambitious and engaging exhibitions in the RWA’s recent history.
We warmly encourage visitors to experience this exceptional exhibition and to explore the work of Close Gallery artists within this rich and expansive curatorial context.
Find out more on the RWA website.
