Art

Creative crossover

From Edgar Davids to Juan Mata, A manchester Exhibition is giving Players the chance to take their creativity off the pitch and into the Gallery

WORDS Jessie Betts

As you step into the exhibition, you’re not just observing the first piece – you’re inside it. A tunnel pulsing with light and layered sound surrounds you, the result of a collaboration between American visual artist Paul Pfeiffer and former Netherlands international Edgar Davids. Mimicking the charged anticipation of walking into a packed stadium, it pulls you straight into the thunder of the terraces and sets the tone for a deeper look at the spectacle of fame and the delicate harmony between art and football.

Part of Manchester International Festival 2025, Football City, Art United is the latest exhibition from Factory International – the newest jewel in the city’s cultural crown – housed in the vast North Warehouse. Pairing 11 artists with 11 legendary footballers, the show explores what each world can learn from the other, reflecting Factory International’s mission to bring together creatives across disciplines for bold, innovative projects.

After making your way through the tunnel, you’re greeted by a large-scale Shetland pony mask – the spirit animal of England international Ella Toone. Created by art collective Keiken, you’re invited to “wear” the mask and listen to a poetic retelling of Toone’s career and close bond with her late dad. With the Lionesses’ Women's EURO 2025 win still fresh, it’s a touching tribute to everything that has shaped her journey to the top.

Across the gallery, former Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa’s collaboration with Japanese manga artist Chikyuu no Osakana Ponchan unfolds as an eight-panel manga weaving together his life and the epic narrative that defines the game itself.

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“The worlds of football and art can both be beautiful, complicated and powerful; something that is explored through these collaborations.”

Juan Mata

An interactive artwork designed with Sandro Mazzola (top); Juan Mata and Edgar Davids at the launch (above); a ticket signed by Eric Cantona (top right); Ella Toone's mask piece (right)

Tucked away at the back is another unmissable creation: a hologram of Diego Maradona dancing and singing, accompanied by an emotive painting of the Argentinian legend. Featuring a gentle halo framing his head, Jill Mulleady’s piece offers a dreamlike interpretation of Maradona’s public persona, thoughtfully capturing his transformation from one-of-a-kind footballer to mythical figure.

A five-channel film by American artist and educator Suzanne Lacy marks the final stop. Developed with Manchester City forward Vivianne Miedema and New Zealand captain Ali Riley, What Do Women (Footballers) Want? confronts systemic issues like sexual violence but closes on an optimistic note, celebrating the rapid rise of the women’s game.

Juan Mata, ex-Manchester United player and co-curator of the exhibition, described how “the worlds of football and art can both be beautiful, complicated and powerful; something that is explored through these collaborations.” The exhibition lives up to this, with an interactive playground at its heart that invites visitors to re-enact iconic moments from Italian legend Sandro Mazzola’s career or create their very own.

While often viewed as opposites, Football City, Art United reveals the exciting possibilities of such a creative crossover – and offers a glimpse of what might lie ahead.

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Art

Creative crossover

From Edgar Davids to Juan Mata, A manchester Exhibition is giving Players the chance to take their creativity off the pitch and into the Gallery

WORDS Jessie Betts

Read the full story

Sign up now to get access to this and every premium feature on Champions Journal. You will also get access to member-only competitions and offers. And you get all of that completely free!

“The worlds of football and art can both be beautiful, complicated and powerful; something that is explored through these collaborations.”

Juan Mata

An interactive artwork designed with Sandro Mazzola (top); Juan Mata and Edgar Davids at the launch (above); a ticket signed by Eric Cantona (top right); Ella Toone's mask piece (right)

While often viewed as opposites, Football City, Art United reveals the exciting possibilities of such a creative crossover – and offers a glimpse of what might lie ahead.

Art

Creative crossover

From Edgar Davids to Juan Mata, A manchester Exhibition is giving Players the chance to take their creativity off the pitch and into the Gallery

WORDS Jessie Betts

Read the full story

Sign up now to get access to this and every premium feature on Champions Journal. You will also get access to member-only competitions and offers. And you get all of that completely free!

“The worlds of football and art can both be beautiful, complicated and powerful; something that is explored through these collaborations.”

Juan Mata

An interactive artwork designed with Sandro Mazzola (top); Juan Mata and Edgar Davids at the launch (above); a ticket signed by Eric Cantona (top right); Ella Toone's mask piece (right)

While often viewed as opposites, Football City, Art United reveals the exciting possibilities of such a creative crossover – and offers a glimpse of what might lie ahead.