Secret 7” unveils 2020 artworks by Jeremy Deller, Lubaina Himid, Michel Gondry and lots more

Secret 7” has announced the contributing artists to this year’s auction, with Jeremy Deller, Lubaina Himid, Tacita Dean, Ragnar Kjartansson, Hattie Stewart and Jean Jullien among its vast, star-studded list. All 700 artworks are, for the first time, available to view now in a digital gallery ahead of the auction and will be shown IRL in a free exhibition opening 14 October. This year’s auction will also take place entirely online due to social distancing, avoiding the usual 52-hour packed queues to nab the top sleeves. This is planned to be the final year Secret 7” takes place in its current format.

Each year the Secret 7” auction sees renowned and emerging artists design record sleeves for one of seven selected tracks. These are shown in an exhibition and auctioned for charity, the twist being that the identity of each sleeve’s designer remains secret until the record is purchased. Since 2012, this formula has provided plenty of fuel for educated guesses and debates among fans, with some artists’ handiwork more obviously distinctive than others, and has delivered more than a few surprises to lucky buyers. Secret 7” has to date sold 4,200 unique records, raising over £215,000 for charity.

This year’s roster of artists also includes Anish Kapoor, Mark Wallinger, Shona Heath, The Connor Brothers, Helen Beard, Lotte Andersen, Stanley Donwood, Jadé Fadojutimi, Maya Hayuk, Gavin Turk, Unskilled Worker, Gregor Hildebrandt, Florence Peake, Bob & Roberta Smith, Rebecca Louise Law, Daisy Parris, Conrad Shawcross, Sara Pope, Pure Evil, Lauren Baker, James Joyce, Morag Myerscough, Pete Fowler, Mary Stephenson, Jimmy Turrell, Frea Buckler, Eric Yahnker, Stuart Semple, Kristen Liu-Wong and Nick Gentry.

The rest of the artworks were selected via open submission, which this year had almost 6,000 entries.

Each artist has created a unique artwork for their choice of this year’s seven tracks, which include Aretha Franklin’s One Step Ahead, Foo Fighters’ This is a Call, and Miles Davis’ Miles Runs the Voodoo Down.

The auction takes place on 1 November with proceeds going to Help Refugees, and taking place on eBay, which is waiving its fees in support of the charity initiative.

The free exhibition opens at Now Gallery on Greenwich Peninsula from 14 October – 1 November 2020, open Monday – Friday, with visitor numbers capped at 15 at one time, and a one-way route. Visitors must book their timed entry on the Secret 7” website in advance.