The Secret Artifact Society Art & Activity International Membership

Every month, the Secret Artifact Society uncovers an art-history story so fascinating that it seems to have been forgotten.

A hidden art form practiced in secret for centuries. A lost technique recovered after decades of searching. A craft that survived colonization, revolution, and the passage of time — hiding in plain sight, waiting for someone to look closely enough.

The stories come from everywhere: ancient civilizations and living cultures, European folk traditions and indigenous arts, the history of color itself. Each story is connected to an art project you create and an archival print to enjoy.

The full story arrives in your letter. That is where the secret lives.

The Letter
Written by Jen Ray — the full story behind that month's secret. The history, the people, the hidden thing that most of the world has forgotten. Personal, specific, and written as if Jen is telling you directly across a table. This is not a pamphlet. It is a letter worth reading twice.

The Archival Print
An original watercolor by Jen Ray, printed on 100% cotton rag archival paper using pigment-based inks rated for 100+ years without fading. Each print weaves botanical imagery with the month's secret — the living natural world and the hidden story it holds, together in one image. Made to frame. Made to keep. Every month, a completely different subject, palette, and world.

The Art Activity
A project printed directly on premium cardstock — ready to color, cut, fold, or complete the moment it arrives. Use whatever art supplies you have on hand, or try some new ones. Each card includes a QR code linking to a short video of Jen completing her version in her studio, an extended story.

The Writing Prompt

Based on the month’s theme, find a beautiful sheet of paper with writing prompts to inspire your dreams.

Your first envelope includes a Secret Artifact Society Prize Card — yours to keep for the length of your membership.

Each month, a code word is somewhere in your letter. Find it, record it on your card, and collect all 12 throughout your membership year. Complete your card with the four other activities and claim your prize.

The QR code is printed on the back of your Prize Card to give you all the details for earning your prize. The Prize Card ships with your first envelope only.

Every Secret Artifact Society archival print begins as an original watercolor or gouache painting in Jen Ray's California studio — botanical forms woven together with the story of that month's secret.

Each print is produced on 100% cotton rag archival paper using pigment-based inks rated for 100+ years without fading. They are made to be framed and kept, and over the course of a year, they become a collection.

Print details:
— Original watercolor by Jen Ray
— 100% cotton rag archival paper
— Pigment-based inks — 100+ year fade resistance
— Ships flat
— Arrives unframed
— Signed by the artist

Monthly Membership — $15 U.S./$19 Intl. month
You will be charged the same day every month (the day you signed up). Cancel anytime through your personal subscriber portal. No cancellation fees. No questions.

Annual membership — $150 U.S./$190 Intl. year

Two months free compared to monthly billing. Billed once per year on your sign-up anniversary. The annual membership is non-refundable — please consider this before selecting the annual option. If you are unsure whether the Society is right for you, we recommend starting with a $15/$19 monthly membership and upgrading to an annual membership at any time.

When does my first envelope ship?
Envelopes ship in the first week of each month. Join before the 25th of the current month, and your first envelope ships the following month. For example, if you join by the 25th of January, you will receive February's envelope. If you join on January 26th, March's envelope will be your first one.

Is shipping included?
Yes — U.S. and International postage is included, without tracking, to keep the membership affordable.

Can I buy a single month without subscribing?
Yes — individual Archive issues from previous months are available in our Archive Catch-up listings while supplies last.

What if I need to pause for a month?
Log in to your subscriber portal anytime to pause, change your address, or cancel. The link is in every billing confirmation email.