Would you pass up the opportunity to own a mini masterpiece by a contemporary creative genius? Nor would we. Such is the proposition of the latest exhibition at Sir John Soane’s Museum.
‘Inspired by Soane: I Found This and Thought of You’ will gather and exhibit postcard-sized artworks from some of the most famous names around; from Zaha Hadid to Ross Lovegrove, Paul Smith, Antony Gormley, Manolo Blanik, Christopher Bailey, and even broadcaster Jon Snow. Most notable perhaps though, is the work of the late American architect Michael Graves, who completed his drawing before his death earlier this year.
The famous artists, architects, designers and cartoonists were all inspired by 100 objects from the museum’s collection - including some pieces that aren’t normally on public display - as well as the iconic building itself. The resulting miniature works of art are now on display at what is widely considered one of London’s best-known secret treasures, and will be raffled off on 26 June.
To enter the raffle, museum-goers can pledge a donation (£350 minimum) for specific works. Each donation (up to the value of £50,000) will be matched by the Leon Levy Foundation. Funds raised will go towards making the museum’s extensive drawing collection more widely accessible to the public by making them digitally available.
The exhibition and raffle coincide with the opening of the private apartments of the museum, following a £7m investment and big conservation and restoration project by London architect Caruso St John and Julian Harrap.
The mini masterpieces will be raffled off at the end of the exhibition. Pictured here: architect Simon Hurst's collage
The contemporary creatives involved in the project range from artist Maggi Hambling, right, to cartoonist Louis Hellman, left
The late American architect Michael Graves completed his drawing before his death earlier this year
Burberry's Christopher Bailey and artist Christopher Oldfield's paintings
To enter the raffle, museum-goers can pledge a donation (£350 minimum) for specific works. Pictured here, the work of designer Ross Lovegrove
Each donation (up to the value of £50,000) will be matched by the Leon Levy Foundation. Pictured here, architect Will Alsop's postcard
Artists Elmgreen & Dragset's mini masterpiece, alongside that of broadcaster Jon Snow
All funds raised will go towards making the museum’s drawing collection more widely accessible to the public by making them digitally available. Pictured here: architect Ken Shuttleworth's drawing
The exhibition and raffle coincides with the opening of the private apartments of the famous museum. Pictured here, artist Roberto Ekholm's picture
The miniature works of art, including this work by designer Michael Wolfson, are now on display at what is widely considered one of London’s best-known secret treasures
Some of the creatives involved were inspired by the museum's extensive collection of objects, like Paul Smith here. Others looked to the building itself to influence their pictures
Shoe designer Manolo Blahnik also created a postcard-sized sketch for the raffle
ADDRESS
Sir John Soane’s Museum
13 Lincoln's Inn Fields,
London
WC2A 3BP
-
Step inside this Upper East Side jewel box apartmentThis radiant Lexington Avenue home is a harbinger of good things for the Upper East Side, and the latest focus of The Inside Story, our series spotlighting intriguing and innovative interior design
-
A new hilltop California home is rooted in the landscape and celebrates views of natureWOJR's California home House of Horns is a meticulously planned modern villa that seeps into its surrounding landscape through a series of sculptural courtyards
-
Is a tiny tattoo the best holiday souvenir? Kimpton Hotels think soIn partnership with Tiny Zaps, Kimpton Hotels is bringing city-inspired tattoo pop-ups to five U.S. locations
-
Tom Wesselmann’s 'Up Close' and the anatomy of desireIn a new exhibition currently on show at Almine Rech in London, Tom Wesselmann challenges the limits of figurative painting
-
A major Frida Kahlo exhibition is coming to the Tate Modern next yearTate’s 2026 programme includes 'Frida: The Making of an Icon', which will trace the professional and personal life of countercultural figurehead Frida Kahlo
-
A portrait of the artist: Sotheby’s puts Grayson Perry in the spotlightFor more than a decade, photographer Richard Ansett has made Grayson Perry his muse. Now Sotheby’s is staging a selling exhibition of their work
-
From counter-culture to Northern Soul, these photos chart an intimate history of working-class Britain‘After the End of History: British Working Class Photography 1989 – 2024’ is at Edinburgh gallery Stills
-
Celia Paul's colony of ghostly apparitions haunts Victoria MiroEerie and elegiac new London exhibition ‘Celia Paul: Colony of Ghosts’ is on show at Victoria Miro until 17 April
-
Teresa Pągowska's dreamy interpretations of the female form are in London for the first time‘Shadow Self’ in Thaddaeus Ropac’s 18th-century townhouse gallery in London, presents the first UK solo exhibition of Pągowska’s work
-
Sylvie Fleury's work in dialogue with Matisse makes for a provocative exploration of the female form'Drawing on Matisse, An Exhibition by Sylvie Fleury’ is on show until 2 May at Luxembourg + Co
-
What to see at BFI Flare film festival, 'a rich tapestry of queer experience'As one of the only film festivals to explicitly profile LGBTQI+ cinema, BFI Flare Film Festival remains a unique and beloved event. Here's what to see as it makes its return to London from 19 - 30 March
