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Artist Hurvin Anderson and Designer Orla Kiely Awarded Royal College of Art Honorary Doctorates

Key details

Date

  • 1 October 2026

Author

  • RCA

Read time

  • 1 minute

Key details

Date

  • 1 October 2026

Author

  • RCA

Read time

  • 1 minute

The Royal College of Art (RCA), the world’s leading art and design university, has awarded Honorary Doctorates to acclaimed artist Hurvin Anderson RA and iconic print designer Orla Kiely OBE.

Photographs of RCA Honorary Doctors Hurvin Anderson and Orla Kiely by Amelia Allen

RCA Honorary Doctors Hurvin Anderson and Orla Kiely by Amelia Allen

The prestigious distinctions were conferred by Sir Peter Bazalgette, Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council at the RCA, during a ceremony held at the iconic Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank.

Honorary Doctorates represent the highest recognition the College can bestow upon an individual, celebrating exceptional accomplishments, profound cultural impact, and sustained excellence in creative fields. Each year, the RCA honours select leaders and innovators with Honorary Doctorates and Honorary Fellowships alongside graduating students during Convocation.

Both 2026 recipients are distinguished RCA alumni whose work has significantly shaped global visual culture. Hurvin Anderson RA, who graduated in MA Painting at the RCA in 1998, is renowned for his evocative, layered paintings that explore identity, memory, and the Caribbean diaspora. Recently the subject of a major survey exhibition at Tate Britain, Anderson’s work is held in major international public collections including the Tate, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, and the Arts Council Collection.

Orla Kiely OBE, who graduated in MA Textiles at the RCA in 1992, is internationally celebrated for her instantly recognisable mid-century inspired graphic patterns. Kiely built a global design brand spanning fashion, accessories, homeware, and textiles, making her one of the most commercially and creatively successful textile designers of her generation.

Honorary Fellowships for 2026 are being awarded to Joy Gregory (visual artist, RCA alumna), Jay Osgerby OBE RDI (designer, RCA alumnus), Mike Forster (independent consultant, and former RCA Council Member) and Corinne Smith (former RCA member of staff). This is a prestigious distinction conferred by the Royal College of Art to recognise individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the College, creative industries, or wider society.

  • “Receiving this Honorary Doctorate from the Royal College of Art is a true privilege. The RCA has played a huge role in my own artistic development and career as well as so many of those whose work I admire. RCA alumni invariably have important things to say about the world and are effective in doing so in part due to the support they receive in their educational foundation. I am proud to be honoured today by an institution that fosters such high levels of individuality, creativity and innovation through the opportunity of education.”

    Hurvin Anderson RA Honorary Doctor

  • “It is an absolute honour to receive this award from the Royal College of Art, a recognition of the highest standing. Being an alumna myself, I know the impact of studying here on the level of creativity, and the process it entails. As creative people we are so blessed that we have a talent, more often a passion, that we can build our careers around, bringing joy and improving lives through human thoughtfulness. For us, it never ever feels like work.”

    Orla Kiely OBE Honorary Doctor