Royal College Of Art 'Secret 2009' Annual Exhibition of Postcards by A- Listers & Students

It's that time of year again and bargain hunters will be queuing up around the block, in order to pick up an original work of art by the likes of Julian Opie or Gerhard Richter for £40. Many big names have generously donated original works of art on postcards. The proceeds will benefit the Royal College of Art. Details are listed below.

THE EXHIBITION

RCA Secret is an annual exhibition and sale of original postcard-sized art, made by professional artists, designers and illustrators, plus the Royal College of Art’s current postgraduate students.

This year’s exhibition of over 2,000 pieces includes work by the renowned artists Bill Viola, Julian Opie and Grayson Perry.

Open at the Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU from Friday 13 November until Friday 20 November 11-6pm, 11-8pm on Thursday 19 November. Free admission. The postcards will also be available for viewing on this website from Friday 13th November. The full exhibition will not be open on the morning of the Sale.

THE SECRET

The postcards are signed only on the reverse, so the author of each work remains a secret until after purchase, and the signature on the back is revealed.

Over 800 artists have donated work to RCA Secret 2009 so far, including Yoko Ono, Cornelia Parker, David Bailey, former Stone Roses guitarist John Squire, and animator Nick Park, as well as fashion designers Sir Paul Smith, Manolo Blahnik and Erdem. Many leading American artists have also contributed this year including Lawrence Weiner, John Baldessari and Alex Katz.

THE SALE

The cards, priced just £40 each, will be sold to the public in a huge one-day Sale on Saturday 21 November, 8am-6pm. You must register in advance of the Sale. If you would like to register please click here.

Please note: online registration will close on Tuesday 17th November (end of day).

Postcards will only be available to purchase in person at the Sale, (four per person).

First-Fifty Raffle tickets for a chance to win a place at the front of the Sale queue will be on sale at the Exhibition, until half an hour before the close of the exhibition on each open day.

For more news, photos, and tips visit our Facebook page.

All proceeds to the RCA Fine Art Student Award Fund, which supports student artists during their training at the Royal College of Art.

Paul Carter Robinson http://www.artlyst.com