A huge thanks to everyone who visited Hidden 2026. It was great to see such a range of artwork across the exhibition. Thank you to our talented staff for their incredible contributions, and of course, the Hidden Committee for bringing it all together.
And thank you to Emmanuel for the wonderful documentation of the Private View! 📸 @asante.iso
Hidden 2026 is open!
Here is a sneak peek of talented RCA staff artwork on display… come by and see it for yourself, we are open in the Hangar RCA Battersea until Saturday afternoon.
Hours:
Tuesday 24 February 1–8pm
Wednesday 25 February 1–8pm
Thursday 26 February 1–5pm
Friday 27 February 1–8pm
Saturday 28 February 10am–3pm
Location:
The Hangar space in the Studio Building
RCA Battersea campus
Howie Street, London SW11 4AY
Installation video 🎥 by Chris Lee @street.eye
#hiddenrca #royalcollegeofart #londonexhibition
HIDDEN is back from next week from 24 to 28 Feburary in the Hangar at RCA Battersea! This unique exhibition celebrates the creativity of technical and non-academic staff at the Royal College of Art.
This exhibition has been successfully showcasing the "hidden" talent and expertise of the RCA's non-academic community since 2003! Demonstrating the often unseen skills, creativity, commitment and technical knowledge of the people providing the crucial backbone of support at the RCA.
Book your tickets at the link in the RCA bio 🎟️
Artwork credits in order: R.Reed, Sky is a Neighbourhood; Alba Ceide Rodriguez & Claudia Espart Hernandez(Technical Instructors (Digital Print)); Oonagh Quinn, Waiting for a Cuppa; Florence Richardson (Facilities Manager), There Was No Rescue (Digital Video and Sound); Jewellery Designs, Jake McCombe.
#Art #Design #Jewellery #Painting #Photography
Join us in celebrating the talent of RCA technical and non-academic staff members in the Hidden 2026 exhibition, 24–28 February, in the Hangar, Battersea.
Dates:
Tuesday 24 February 1–8pm
Wednesday 25 February 1–8pm
Thursday 26 February 1–5pm
Friday 27 February 1–8pm
Saturday 28 February 10am–3pm
Location:
The Hangar space in the Studio Building
RCA Battersea campus
Howie Street, London SW11 4AY
There will be a Private View for RCA staff, students, friends and family on Thursday 26 February, 6pm - 9:30pm. Register via eventbrite (link in our bio). A range of performances and workshops by our artists will be happening throughout the PV and exhibition. Stay tuned for more details.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Poster design by Ian Gabb 🎨
#HIDDENrca #exhibition #royalcollegeofart
I am thrilled to announce that I will be performing live, for the first time in 7 years.
I will be performing ’Vilify the kid’ a participatory performance bringing to life a character from my body of work ‘Viper in my grave’.
The performance will take place at Thursday 26 February, at 7 pm as part of the @hidden.rca exhibition’s private view. Get your tickets from their page while you can.
The performance is part of my @rcalibrary artist residency, dualitiess.
Photo by @tommmcat x
From the Hidden archive: in this post, we have artwork by Jimi Kazak, Exhibition Support in ILTS.
The Joy Of Games, 2024. Ludo four player bespoke table top game, mixed media.
A bit about the work: “Inspired by many colours, textures, moods; moods of sounds, layers upon layers of music and life; life it is the game. So may the games begin. Perhaps give the Ludo table a spin.”
@jimzak_art
Join us for Hidden 2026, 24-28 February, 1-8pm.
📸 @street.eye
#HIDDENrca #exhibition #royalcollegeofart
This work from a previous Hidden exhibition brings together material, memory and process. Samuele Albani is a Specialist Technical Instructor in Interactive Media at the RCA.
Hidromancy, 2024. Video, raspberry pi, LCD screens.
A bit about the work: “Hydromancy is an algorithmic divination process interpreting reflections on the surface of water, analysed by a computer vision system. The detected wave patterns synchronise with a dataset of frames scanned from the artist’s family VHS archive, triggering the AI model to predict imaginations of echoes of machine memory. The installation investigates the intersection of personal history and artificial intelligence.”
@_samuelealbani_
Join us for Hidden 2026, 24-28 February, 1-8pm.
📸 @street.eye
#HIDDENrca #exhibition #royalcollegeofart
From the Hidden archive: Repaired, remade garments by Debbie Stack, Specialist Technical Instructor in Textiles and Mixed Media.
Secondhand garments, repurposed fabric scraps, found wool, freehand and digital embroidery, 2024.
@deborahstacktextiles
Join us for Hidden 2026, 24-28 February, 1-8pm.
📸 @street.eye
#HIDDENrca #exhibition #royalcollegeofart
Before Hidden returns (very!) soon, we’re taking time to reflect on some of the practices that have defined past exhibitions.
Diego Valente is a Future Materials Technician, who also studied an MRes in Fine Art at the RCA in 2019.
Open Circuit, 2024. Cast Bronze, Hand Beaten Copper and Water
@diegovalente
Join us for Hidden 2026, 24-28 February, 1-8pm.
📸 @street.eye
#HIDDENrca #exhibition #royalcollegeofart
Hidden celebrates the talents and makings of staff members at the RCA, specifically focusing on Professional Services, Administration, and Technical Services. This means we end up with a huge range of skills and outcomes to celebrate!
In the lead up to Hidden 2026, we are sharing some highlights from our previous exhibitions…
Melanie Issaka is a Technical Instructor in Photography. Technicians at the RCA cultivate collaboration and curiosity in an inclusive environment, helping our students realise their ambitions.
Untitled, 2024, Photography and mixed media.
@melo_onny
The countdown is on until Hidden 2026!
📸 @street.eye
#HIDDENrca #exhibition #royalcollegeofart
Behind Hidden is a community of makers, technicians, and thinkers. Today we are highlighting the work of Katie Bowdery, Technical Instructor for the Graduate Diploma (and one of the driving forces behind Hidden 2026! 💪🏼)
Analogue X Digital, 2024
Dye sublimation on canvas.
A bit about Katie’s process: “These abstract photographic prints begin with waste photosensitive paper, using cooking and cleaning solutions to encourage a reaction of light and chemistry. At various stages, these small photoprints are scanned until I am satisfied with the marks; then selectively manipulated, exploring layering and colour correcting.”
@katiebowdery
Stay tuned for more artist spotlights and join us at the upcoming exhibition in February!
📸 @street.eye
#HIDDENrca #exhibition #royalcollegeofart
Today’s artist highlight shows the work of an RCA staff member whose practice extends beyond his role. Ian Whittaker, Lead Technical Instructor, has used 77+ year old American car parts, and restyled them to suit a 40’s customised car build.
Remove, Restore, Replace, Rust never Sleeps, 2024.
“There’s as much visionary/designer skill behind every true custom car builder as there is actual physical talent and craftsmanship abilities - without one, you’re a tradesman; without the other, an artist.” this quote by Rob Fortier, Automotive journalist and car builder perfectly describes the role of the artisan custom car builder/Hot Rodder.”
@bundys_speedshop
More artist highlights coming soon as we count down to Hidden 2026…
📸 @street.eye
#HIDDENrca #exhibition #royalcollegeofart
