June 2026
Inaugural exhibition featuring works by Caroline Coon, Susie Hamilton and Helen Beard, alongside Royal Academician Miriam Escofet and a cross-generational group of contemporary artists.
AOAP Projects (formerly Art on a Postcard) and the Royal Society of Arts announce the launch of a new annual summer exhibition, Illuminated. The exhibition introduces a distinct format, conceived to become a fixture in London’s summer cultural calendar.
Set within the Royal Society of Arts historic headquarters, the exhibition draws on the institution’s Enlightenment origins – founded in 1754 as a meeting point for artists, thinkers and reformers – and its enduring emphasis on the role of creativity in shaping the common good. Today, its global Fellowship continues this legacy -sharing knowledge, evolving ideas, and offering their energy in service of something bigger than themselves.
Over its history, the Royal Society of Arts has counted among its members figures such as Karl Marx, David Attenborough, and Mary Moser. Its legacy includes pioneering exhibitions, progressive social campaigns, and influential policy work.
Building on this history, Illuminated invites contemporary artists to respond to themes of enlightenment, social value, and collective progress – the foundational principles upon which the Royal Society of Arts was established. The exhibition also pays homage to the Enlightenment-era coffee house culture from which the institution emerged, evoking light, exchange, and intellectual vitality. Unlike AOAP’s established auction model, Illuminated will take the form of a curated sales exhibition. This initiative reflects a strategic evolution for AOAP Projects, aiming to bring high-quality contemporary art into dialogue with one of London’s most historically significant cultural institutions. The exhibition has been conceived to establish a lasting annual presence within the city’s art landscape.
The inaugural edition is curated by Gemma Peppe, who has assembled a selection of artists whose practices collectively set a strong foundation for the future of the exhibition. Participating artists will receive 50% of proceeds from sales, while also contributing to the RSA’s ongoing programme of social impact work.
Maintaining AOAP’s ethos of accessibility, all exhibited works will be produced at an intimate scale, with dimensions not exceeding 7 × 7 inches. Submissions span all media, reflecting a diverse and dynamic cross-section of contemporary practice.
Some of the noteworthy artists participating in the inaugural exhibition and sale include: Leading British painter Caroline Coon, whose work has been exhibited at major institutions including Tate Britain and the Hayward Gallery, and who remains a significant voice in feminist figurative painting; Susie Hamilton, widely recognised for her psychologically charged depictions of contemporary life and whose work is held in major collections including the Science Museum and the Deutsche Bank Collection; and Helen Beard, whose bold, colour-saturated paintings have been championed in both institutional and commercial contexts, including Damien Hirst’s Newport Street Gallery.
The exhibition also brings together an intergenerational group of artists whose practices span painting, photography and conceptual work, including Royal Academician Miriam Escofet, known for her technically accomplished and psychologically nuanced portraiture; Jon Burgerman, an internationally recognised figure in contemporary drawing and visual culture; and Mandy Payne, whose work exploring architecture and urban space has been widely exhibited across the UK.
Laure Barthelemy, Curator at the Royal Society of Arts, said: ‘Illuminated reflects the Royal Society of Arts’ enduring belief that creativity can help shape a better society. Bringing together contemporary artists within a space so closely tied to ideas, culture and public life, the exhibition creates a new platform for artistic exchange in the spirit of creativity for the common good.’
Title: Illuminated
Venue: The RSA, 8 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6EZ
Public Dates: 10–24 June 2026
Private View: Tuesday, 9 June 2026 6-8pm
Welcoming over 150 contemporary artists to celebrate the RSA’s founding principles.
Participating artists include: Alicia Rothman, Anna Maria Schönrock, Anne Carney Raines, Bianca MacCall, Caroline Coon, Caroline Cornelius, Caroline de Chaunac de Lanzac, Caroline Gorick, Céline Bodin, Damien Cifelli, Darren Reid, Darren Slater, David Cass, Diego Palacios (Livson), Duncan Shoosmith, Emeli Theander, Emma Coyle, Emma Hart, Genevieve Leavold, Hannah Tilson, Helen Beard, Holly Brodie, Ian Everard, Ingrid Berthon-Moine, Jackie Almond, Jennifer McRae (RSA), Jen Orpin, Johanna Seidel, Jon Burgerman, Joseph Black, John Stark, Kate Sherman, Kathryn Lynch, Lesley Oldaker, Lily Macrae, Lois Wallace, Mandy Payne, Manon Steyaert, Michele Ashby, Michelle Conway, Miko Veldkamp, Miriam Escofet, Motonori Uwasu, Natalie Terenzini, Peter Jones, Pippa Gatty, Rachel Ross, Rebecca Brodskis, Rhona Taylor, Richard Spare, Ruth Heaton, Susie Hamilton, Tang Shuo, Tania Rivilis, Tony Beaver, Trevor Sutton, Uta Schotten and Winnie Hall.
The Royal Society of Arts is the home of creativity for the common good.
Founded in 1754 in a Covent Garden coffee house, the Royal Society of Arts was built on a radical idea: that human ingenuity, given the right conditions, can solve the world’s most pressing challenges. Born in the Enlightenment and reshaped for each new era, we have spent more than 270 years bringing together bold thinkers and doers to turn ideas into action.
Our global Fellowship spans more than 80 countries and includes artists, entrepreneurs, educators, scientists and public leaders. From historic figures like Benjamin Franklin and Marie Curie to contemporary voices shaping today’s world, we have always been a place where different perspectives meet to spark new thinking.
Today, we work at the intersection of ideas and action. Through events, research and partnerships, we tackle the defining issues of our time – from education and local economies to culture and community. We connect people across disciplines, test new approaches, and scale what works.
Our mission is simple: to bring people and ideas together, and turn shared imagination into real progress.
Following more than a decade as one of the UK’s most recognised charitable art auctions, Art on a Postcard has evolved into AOAP Projects, signalling an ambitious expansion of its programme for 2026 and beyond.
While fundraising remains central—through auctions featuring leading international artists and carefully selected charitable partners—AOAP Projects introduces new formats including curated exhibitions, subscriber-only sales, and exclusive print releases.
The launch of Illuminated represents a significant departure from its traditional model, establishing a platform for sustained curatorial engagement and reinforcing its commitment to artistic quality, accessibility, and meaningful cultural contribution.
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