RCA Secret Celebrates 21 Years in London and Goes Global in Dubai

In Battersea, 2015’s Stewarts Law RCA Secret promises to bring the biggest names of the art world to London, with the largest ever call out to industry-leading artists and designers, proving that the best things really do get better with age,

Past contributors have included Grayson Perry, Paula Rego, Yinka Shonibare, Julian Opie, Christo, Ryan Gander, Richard Long, Jarvis Cocker, Yoko Ono, Sir James Dyson, Annette Messager, architect Zaha Hadid, Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park, film director Mike Leigh, fashion designers Sir Paul Smith, Orla Kiely, Christopher Bailey and Manolo Blahnik, and photographer David Bailey.

During the weeklong RCA Secret Dubai exhibition – which will run in tandem with its London counterpart, at A4 Space, Alserkal Avenue as part of Art Dubai’s Art Week – up to 1,000 bespoke artworks from some of the world’s leading artists and designers along with rising RCA students and graduates will be available to buy for only 500 dirham each. The UAE and Middle East’s thriving art scenes will also be represented, with contributions by local and regional artists and designers. Proceeds will go to the College’s Scholarship Fund, helping talented students at formative stages in their careers, and also contribute to establishing and running RCA courses in Dubai, which will in turn nurture emerging local talent.

'The flourishing art market in Dubai is incredibly exciting,' Dean of the Royal College of Art’s School of Fine Art, Professor Juan Cruz said. 'As we step outside London for the very first time, Dubai is the perfect place to bring one of the RCA’s most cherished and fruitful exhibitions.'

Over the last 20 years, visitors have purchased art works that would be the envy of any art collector. At Stewarts Law RCA Secret in London this year, for just £55, you too could own a mini masterpiece. 

So what’s the secret? All of the postcards are displayed anonymously so you have to guess which artist or designer has made the work before you hand over your cash. Each year, the Royal College of Art asks professional artists and designers, plus up-and-coming art students and graduates to make and donate a piece of work, the only conditions are that it has to be postcard-sized and it must be signed on the back only. Artists may choose to paint, draw, sketch or even produce a 3D sculpture as long as it’s postcard-sized.

It's not just for art experts: you’ll go home with something you love, whether it is by a famous name or a young art student (who could go on to be the next Tracey Emin!). All profits go towards the RCA Fine Art student award fund, helping emerging artists at a formative stage in their careers. 

Stewarts Law RCA Secret opens to the public on 12 March 2015 and ends with the sale day on 21 March 2015 at the Royal College of Art’s Dyson Building in Battersea.

Stewarts Law RCA Secret London

Royal College of Art
Dyson Building
1 Hester Road
London SW11 4AS

Exhibition open: 12 March – 20 March 2015, 11am – 6pm daily (late night opening on 19 March until 8pm)

Sale day: Saturday 21 March 2015, 8am – 6pm (raffle winners will be admitted 1 hour before general public)
Free admission

RCA Secret Dubai

Art Dubai
Madinat Jumeirah

Exhibition open: 18 March – 21 March 2015
Sale day: Saturday 21 March
Free admission