Selfridges teams up with Ikon Gallery to reveal State of the Arts

Selfridges has joined forces with the renowned independent Ikon Gallery to bring thought-provoking art to the premium department store. 

The launch of State of the Arts extends the store’s commitment to exploring the power of art in unexpected places and features a stunning, specially commissioned piece by Perry Roberts, a Belgian-based British artist, as well as an art trail of works by other critically acclaimed and award-winning artists. 

Sam Watts, general manager of Selfridges Birmingham, said:

“We love to make our customers think and this arts campaign will explore how can art enhance a community and where the lines are between fashion and art.

“As we have long demonstrated: Selfridges is more than a department store. We pride ourselves on aligning ourselves closely with great artists, including Live + Loud, our annual celebration of music, literature, dance and art. This collaboration with Ikon strengthens our commitment to the arts scene and we’re really looking forward to hearing our customers’ reactions to these amazing pieces of art.”

Perry Roberts, who works in a variety of media such as painting, furniture and wall drawings, has created ‘the seasons’ - a text-based 360० installation that can be viewed at the front entrances on levels 2 and 3.  The panels reflect on our experience of the seasons - fragmented and mixed up, suggesting the effects of climate change and raising questions about the nature of fashion.

Level 4 will feature three amazing pieces of art, including a limited edition ‘A Real Birmingham Family’ sculpture by Turner Prize winning artist Gillian Wearing - one of the only places in the city where it can be seen. The original £150,000 statue, commissioned by Ikon, features Birmingham sisters Roma and Emma Jones and their children. It was installed in Centenary Square in 2014 but was removed three years later for £10m transformation works to take place. Cast in bronze, the limited edition of 20 sculptures are priced at £7,200 each.

Alongside is ‘Still Life Jug’ by Richard Wilson - a handmade ceramic jug, depicted in motion, echoing unknown time through a shift in position. A limited edition of 50 has been produced, priced £3,000.

Level 4 will also feature ‘Carmen Miranda’ - an outstanding art-reflecting-fashion piece by Joana Vasconcelos, which depicts a giant shoe made out of stainless steel pans. This eye-catching sculpture, is located in Shoe Galleries, the store’s largest shoe department outside of London with more than 1,700 styles from nearly 50 designers including Balenciaga, Valentino and Stella McCartney across over 15,000 sq ft of floor space.

The final installation is the disco-ball inspired shoe, which is located by  Gucci and the recently launched luxury personal shopping suite. The supersized mirrored shoe is encased in a large wooden transport box and showcases the art in an unexpected place. 

Jonathan Watkins, director of Ikon Gallery, said:

“Ikon and Selfridges go well together with State of the Arts. Last year saw us collaborating with visionary fashion designer Osman Yousefzada and now we unveil the seasons, a new site-specific commission by renowned Belgium-based artist Perry Roberts. Displayed in the shop front windows of Selfridges’ Birmingham, it coincides with the presentation of our limited editions by Richard Wilson and Gillian Wearing on the 4th floor, extending further our artistic programme into the stimulating world of retail."

The installations will be complemented by a series of drop-in art workshops for children and activities. More information can be found here.