Time to pay and display

Regardless of how much the art world gets talked up in the media, besides artists, critics, curators and buyers, few know that commercial galleries even exist. As our public museums do such a good job sating the needs of the casual art lover, so the Royal Academy's showcase of London's top commercial galleries is undoubtedly a clever idea.

Ranging widely in profile and type of artist they represent, there are 20 galleries showing. One of the most established is the Lisson, and its room here is beautiful and austere. A white fibreglass funnel by Anish Kapoor appears to grow from the wall. You look at it from the left, from the right and head on, and it confounds with its disorientation of space. Some galleries have chosen to concentrate on only one artist. Sadie Coles HQ offers Elizabeth Peyton, an American painter best

known for her star-struck paintings of celebrities. Now it's just her dog and some friends, but this hasn't improved them much.

There are more strange choices. The domed central room is painted a deep blue, with Howard Hodgkin's small painted panels shown by the Gagosian; they're very disappointing.

It's better to see a selection of what each gallery has to offer. InterimArt has included Gillian Wearing, in a photo of her in a mask that resembles her own face, and art duo Muntean/Rosenblum, who paint lounging teenagers offering up profound and vacuous thoughts (pictured). This is the first room and it's a great opener. However, there's one glaring omission: The White Cube represents some of the biggest players around and it's nowhere in sight. You can always take a trip to Hoxton yourself, of course, and, unlike the RA, commercial galleries are free.

Until Oct 12, Royal Academy, Piccadilly W1, daily 10am to 6pm (Fri to 10pm), £5, £4 concs. Tel: 020 7300 8000.

Tube: Piccadilly Circus/Green Park