A new annual summer exhibition in London is being launched by the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) and AOAP Projects, the organisation formerly known as Art on a Postcard. Participating artists will receive 50% of proceeds from sales, with the rest contributing to the RSA’s ongoing programme of social impact work.
Illuminated will run from 10-24 June at the RSA’s headquarters on John Adam Street in central London, with all works produced at a scale no larger than seven inches by seven inches. The inaugural edition features more than 100 artists, including the British painter Caroline Coon, whose work has been exhibited at Tate Britain and the Hayward Gallery; Susie Hamilton, known for her psychologically charged depictions of contemporary life and whose work is held in the Science Museum and the Deutsche Bank Collection; and Helen Beard, whose colour-saturated paintings have featured at Damien Hirst’s Newport Street Gallery, among others.
The exhibition represents what AOAP Projects describes as a “strategic evolution” away from its long-running postcard auction format towards curated exhibitions and broader fundraising initiatives.
“The postcard auctions brought in some extraordinary work and helped build a very loyal audience, but inevitably, the shows began to feel structurally similar,” the curator Gemma Peppe told The Art Newspaper. “AOAP Projects allows us to expand beyond that model and develop exhibitions and fundraising initiatives that are more tailored to the artists, the partner charity and the space itself.”
Peppe says the RSA was a natural partner because of its social mission and willingness to embrace ambitious ideas. “The Royal Society of Arts felt like the right institutional partner because it combines cultural ambition with a genuine social purpose, which aligns closely with how we approach projects at AOAP Projects,” she says. “I’ve always loved the space itself, and it feels underused as an exhibition venue given the building’s history and scale.”
Laure Barthelemy, a curator at the RSA, says the exhibition reflects the institution’s “enduring belief that creativity can help shape a better society”. Previous examples of the RSA’s social impact have included programmes to help reduce regional inequality in the UK, make the fashion industry more sustainable, supporting community banks and helping children at risk of being excluded from school.
The exhibition draws explicitly on the RSA’s Enlightenment roots, with organisers positioning it as both a sales exhibition and a reflection on “enlightenment, social value, and collective progress”, according to a statement.
Barthelemy adds: “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.”
Accessibility remains central to the project. Works will start at £55, with organisers hoping to attract younger collectors alongside established buyers and the RSA’s fellowship network.
“A lot of our audience has grown up with us,” Peppe says. “I often hear from younger gallerists, curators and collectors who tell me they bought their first artwork through one of our auctions.”
She adds: “The hope is that the exhibition brings together established collectors, younger audiences and the broader public in a way that feels open and welcoming rather than exclusive.”
Peppe also emphasises the exhibition’s intergenerational mix of artists as central to its identity. “Established names lend visibility and confidence to the project, while younger artists bring a different energy and often attract younger collectors who are starting to buy contemporary art for the first time,” she says.
