About The Secret Art Prize

The Secret Art Prize celebrates strange and beautiful imaginations — a platform for emerging artists working in surreal, urban, and unconventional forms to step into the spotlight.

Curious Duke Gallery

Founded by Eleni Duke, Curious Duke Gallery has built a reputation for nurturing surreal and urban art. The gallery champions artists in the early stages of their career and beyond, often bringing street artists into a gallery environment for their first time.

Our Mission

The Secret Art Prize, now organised by Curious Duke Gallery, seeks to support new talents and present them to a wider audience. Artists are encouraged to push boundaries — exploring new mediums, subjects, and approaches across drawing, painting, print making, mixed media, and photography.

Prize History

Launched in January 2015 for its second year, the prize built on a successful 2014 edition that drew over 130 applicants and culminated in a highly popular exhibition. Since then, winners have received cash awards, exhibition space at major art fairs, full gallery representation, mentoring, and magazine profiles.

The Secret Art Prize serves as a distinctive platform for emerging artists whose work embraces the strange, the surreal, and the unconventional. Organized by Curious Duke Gallery, this annual award seeks out imaginations that push beyond traditional boundaries, particularly welcoming those working in urban and street-inspired forms. Artists at the early stages of their career find here an opportunity to gain visibility among a panel of judges and a public audience who value originality over polish. The prize encourages applicants to submit work that reflects their unique visual voice, whether in painting, photography, drawing, or mixed media. It remains a celebration of curiosity and creative fearlessness.