Discerning Eye

"I defy anyone to come and not see something they like", says 2026 selector Hugh Bonneville... Now in its fourth decade, the Discerning Eye is one of the UK’s most distinctive open exhibitions, bringing together hundreds of small-scale artworks by artists from across the country at Mall Galleries in central London. What sets the exhibition apart is its curatorial model. Six prominent figures from across the art world each select their own section independently, creating six smaller exhibitions within the whole. This year’s selectors are actor and arts champion Hugh Bonneville, art market critic and economist Mel Gerlis, portrait artist Kelvin Okafor, IP and art lawyer and collector Jon Sharples, artist and scientist Jasmine Pradissitto, and arts editor Martin Robinson. Each selector chooses a mix of works by artists they personally invite and works from the nationwide open call. The result places emerging talent alongside established names, across painting, drawing, print, sculpture, photography, textiles, ceramics and more. No work is larger than 50cm in any direction, and every piece is for sale. That makes the exhibition a rewarding place to start or grow a collection, whatever your space or budget. Prizes worth over £9,100 across 13 awards will be presented at the start of the exhibition. This year’s edition is the largest in the exhibition’s history, with more than 750 artworks selected from 6,800 entries. There is literally something for everyone! Discerning Eye 2026 runs at Mall Galleries, The Mall, London SW1, from 13 to 21 November 2026, open 10am to 5pm daily. Admission is free and no booking is required. A virtual exhibition continues online until 1 January 2027.