Fulham FC Art: Italian Curator in London

A London there is a rather particular cultural project. One of its oldest stadiums – Craven Cottage, overlooking the Thames – as well as an outdoor swimming pool, terraces, restaurants, a hotel, a spa and a Members Club, also houses a contemporary art collection. He is the one who takes care of it Mattia Pozzoniart advisor with over ten years of experience in the art world, both in the public and private spheres, in London and Milan. He currently manages numerous high-profile collections and collaborates closely with artists and institutions.

The history of one of London’s oldest stadiums

Craven Cottage it is a historic stadium located in London in the Fulham district, near Bishops Park, on the banks of the River Thames (only Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, inaugurated in 1877, beats it in age). It was built on the land where the cottage stood in the 19th century William Craven6th Baron Craven, once part of the hunting grounds of Anne Boleyn. Since 1896 it has been owned by London’s oldest football club, the Fulham FC. Since 2020, the Club has started renovation work on the Riverside Stand, the football club’s new luxury stand, which offers premium experiences and exclusive services such as a spa and gym with a rooftop pool, restaurants and bars, a 13-room boutique hotel (the Fulham Pier Hotel), a basement entertainment area with cinema and sports bar and the Lighthouse Socialhome to the contemporary art collection that it shares with the hotel.

The Lighthouse Social art collection

This is the brand new private club for members of the football team, but also open to anyone who wants to join to enjoy different experiences along the river, from haute cuisine to entertainment. “Lighthouse Social is a neighborhood club that attracts members of all cultures, backgrounds, industries and interests“, he says Emily Biggsresponsible for registrations. “We want people with a lot to say and nothing to proveAt the center of Lighthouse Social’s identity, however, is its permanent art collectioncurated by Mattia Pozzoni. With over 80 works perfectly integrated into the interiors from well-known Parisian design studio Dion et Arlesthe collection enhances every environment. From established figures such as David Shrigley and Billy Childish, to emerging British and Irish talents such as Jemima Murphy, each work has been carefully selected and many have been commissioned exclusively for the new space.

The comment by the curator Mattia Pozzoni

“Craven Cottage becomes a cutting-edge laboratory: here the stadium meets art, hospitality and the city. It is a unique project, which goes beyond football and welcomes a Members’ Club and a hotel overlooking the Thames. We have curated a distinctive art collection, designed to enhance the bold and refined character of the Lighthouse and Fulham Pier Hotel. From the beginning the goal was not simply to decorate, but to build an authentic dialogue between the works and the spaces. Each environment has its own tone and function, and the works of Artistic. Schishing Lakhris, Jamma Murphy, David Shriggley, they respond to these nuances, adding depth and personality without imposing a single narrative”.

Claudia Giraud