Blake brings star quality to RA

Slumped in a corner of one of the Royal Academy's elegant galleries is a full black plastic bin bag. Visitors to the 2001 Summer Exhibition, which opens to the public next Tuesday, might tut as they step round it.

Those in the know, however, will recognise it as one of the 1,180 highly desirable pieces of art in this year's show.

As in previous years, the character of the 2001 exhibition gives a strong clue to the academician in charge of curating it. Peter Blake, the British pop artist best known for the cover of the Beatles LP Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, has pulled together work from several generations of talented artists, pop stars and sculptors to create a dazzling show.

Paul McCartney, Ronnie Wood, Holly Johnson and the late Ian Dury all have work in the show. RA officials cannot remember pop stars ever exhibiting in the summer collection, though Blake is keen to play it down. "I feel these musicians are serious painters," he said. "It is not a publicity stunt; they are here as painters."

The Large Weston Room, home of Gavin Turk's bin bag, contains what many see as the cream of the crop: works specially chosen by Blake. These include a vibrant oil by Bridget Riley and a gnome covered in cigarettes by Sarah Lucas. Like many exhibits the gnome, entitled Willy, is for sale - for £40,000.

For £10,000 less there is the Olympian, a bronze sculpture of Sir Steve Redgrave by Nicholas Dimbleby, brother of David and Jonathan. There is also a new spot painting by Damien Hirst, two over-sized pictures of Kylie by cult photographer Rankin, and a chrome fridge plus contents by Clive Barker.

"I am really excited about this exhibition," adds Blake, "and think everything is mixed together extremely well."

The exhibition at the Royal Academy opens to the public on 5 June. It runs until 13 August and is open 10am-6pm every day, and until 10pm on Fridays. Admission costs £7 with concessions available.