An art exhibition featuring 700 unique artist-designed record sleeves goes on display at NOW Gallery this week in aid of War Child.
The Cure, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Jessie Ward, Frank Turner, Scissor Sisters, Keane, Gregory Porter and Jessie Ware have all offered a track each for the return of the legendary Secret 7″ fundraising exhibition.
Each record has a unique sleeve design inspired by the tracks put forward by this year’s musicians. Artists creating designs include fashion designer Sir Paul Smith, Turner Prize-winning sculptor Antony Gormley OBE RA, the artist behind every Radiohead album cover Stanley Donwood, interdisciplinary artist Rana Begum, Haroon Mirza, Anthony Burrill, Yooyun Yang, The Cure frontman Robert Smith, BBC Radio 1 Rock Show host Daniel P Carter, Andrew Pierre Hart, Future Awards Africa-winner Ken Nwadiogbu, Vicken Parsons and Giles Deacon among many others.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor has shared Devotion, a brand-new song exclusive to War Child’s Secret 7”. Andy Vella, the designer behind The Cure’s best-loved album covers has created a brand-new record sleeve design inspired by The Cure track Warsong for the 2025 auction. Buyers won’t know which artist – world-renowned or emerging – has designed their sleeve until after auction.
Yinka Ilori Etching
This year’s records all feature an exclusive etching by Yinka Ilori MBE that’s wrapped in bright colours and a unique flower motif, bringing the phrase ‘Let Them Blossom’ to life.
Exhibition visitors can put on headphones and listen to the seven records as well as the full Secret 7″ archive in a new dedicated listening space on the mezzanine level at NOW Gallery. The space also offers an insider’s look at the production of this year’s 700 vinyl records and the art design process behind artist Yinka Ilori MBE’s exclusive etching.
Golden Records
For the first time, in 2025 Secret 7” has hidden 7 Golden Records, signed by the musical artists, at beloved independent record shops across the UK. Record hunters can find clues of where to find them on the Secret 7” Instagram @secret7s. When they find a golden record sleeve, they can hand it in to the record shop counter to collect their signed Secret 7” 2025 auction Golden Record. The hunt begins April 11 2025.
A record sale like no other, Secret 7” has raised over £700,000 for charity since its inception 9 years ago. Designs for the project have broken boundaries of what a record sleeve can be, with past sleeves being made from concrete, felt, Lego, acrylic, clay, stitchwork and everything in between.
War Child protects, educates, and stands up for the rights of children living in war zones. War Child provides vital support to children and their families in 13 countries across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America including in active conflict zones like Ukraine and Gaza. The charity responds to emergency crisis situations with immediate aid, keeps children safe, and helps them through their trauma.
Secret 7″ at NOW Gallery, Greenwich Peninsula – 11 April – 1 June 2025.
The records will be available for auction until 1 June 2025.
Details on how to bid can be found at secret-7.co.uk.
