Art and Football Collide in a Global Showcase at Aviva Studios
- Jomanda Heng
- Jul 16
- 2 min read
This summer, Manchester isn’t just hosting football matches—it’s hosting an artistic revolution. Football City, Art United, part of the Manchester International Festival 2025, transforms Aviva Studios into a multi-sensory celebration of football through contemporary art. Eleven iconic footballers are matched with eleven visionary artists to create bold, thought-provoking works that challenge how we see sport, fame, identity, and creativity.
Curated by former World Cup-winning footballer Juan Mata, alongside celebrated curator Hans Ulrich Obrist and Josh Wildigg, the exhibition blurs the lines between the pitch and the gallery. It’s an homage to the “trequartista”—the creative playmaker in football, and this case, in culture.
The Experience
From interactive installations to video art and holographs, each room invites you into the minds of players and artists alike:
The Playmaker by Stefano Boeri Architetti, in collaboration with Sandro Mazzola and Eduardo Terrazas, is a vibrant playable arena, designed to embody the spirit of classic football creativity.
Eric Cantona and conceptual artist Ryan Gander present a poetic spotlight installation examining legacy, solitude, and the ego of football legends.
Ella Toone and the artist collective Keiken craft futuristic masks reflecting on performance, perception, and women in sport.
Jill Mulleady’s haunting holographic portrait of Diego Maradona conjures the mystique and mythology surrounding global football icons.
Rose Wylie’s striking billboard paintings celebrate the rise of women’s football, inspired by Lotte Wubben-Moy.
Paul Pfeiffer and Edgar Davids present a tunnel of light and sound titled Crowds and Power, channelling the visceral energy of roaring stadiums.
Expect manga, playable video games, sculptures, and immersive films—all exploring the human side of the game.
Where and When
📍 Aviva Studios, Manchester🗓️ 5 July – 24 August 2025
This exhibition is open to all ages, with free entry for children. It is part of the larger Manchester International Festival 2025, reinforcing the city’s reputation as both a football and creative capital.
“Football and art have more in common than people realise,” says Juan Mata. “Both are universal languages. Both can move people, inspire communities, and spark change.” Football City, Art United is not just a celebration of sport—it’s a cultural conversation about identity, emotion, and storytelling.
References
Factory International. Football City: Art United. https://factoryinternational.org/whats-on/football-city-art-united
The Guardian. “Eric Cantona and Ella Toone Help Meld Football and Art.” June 2025.
DesignBoom. “Stefano Boeri Creates Vibrant Football Installation in Manchester.” July 2025.
Financial Times. “Art and Football Meet at Aviva Studios.” July 2025.
The Uncommon Breed
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