New artwork by Hew Locke OBE goes on public display for first time as Academy launches digitised collection with Bloomberg Connects

For the first time in its history, the British Academy’s unique collection of 20th-century contemporary art - housed at its London home at 10-11 Carlton House Terrace - will soon be accessible to art enthusiasts around the globe through the Bloomberg Connects app.

Launching as a free online guide on the Bloomberg Connects app, the British Academy’s collection boasts over 100 works by internationally renowned artists such as Barbara Hepworth, Paula Rego, Emma Stibbon, David Hockney, and Yinka Shonibare. A new and previously unseen mixed materials piece, Raw Materials 27, by the acclaimed British-Guyanese artist and sculptor Hew Locke OBE will be unveiled to the public for the first time this weekend as part of the Academy’s annual Summer Showcase, and also features on the Bloomberg Connects guide.

The Academy’s collection is carefully curated by a team of expert art historians, curators, artists and industry figures, with experience working with prestigious institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery and the Courtauld Institute of Art. Many of its pieces tell the story of the development of British art in the twentieth century.

Dawn Ades FBA, professor emeritus of art history and theory at the University of Essex and a member of the British Academy’s art committee, said:

“The British Academy’s art collection is truly one-of-a-kind. In building it, we have drawn from a wide range of the art and rich craft traditions produced in Britain over the past century. We are delighted to have worked with Hew Locke and his team to create a permanent home for Raw Materials 27, as well as partnering with Bloomberg Connects to make the whole collection freely accessible to art lovers across the globe.”

Bloomberg Connects collaborates with over 500 museums and cultural organisations, including the National Portrait Gallery, the Design Museum, the Hayward Gallery, and Tate. This partnership enables free unlimited access to exhibitions, collections, and renowned artists worldwide. The Academy's guide will offer exclusive curatorial insights and behind-the-scenes stories, providing a rich, immersive experience that brings the Academy's art and its history to life.

Discover the British Academy’s contemporary art collection today by downloading the Bloomberg Connects app and viewing it in person at the Academy’s Summer Showcase (12 – 13 July).

Photography by Oli Cowling