Pride of England

22 Jan-23 Feb 2025

Matthew Small, Three Lions (detail), 2024, Sculpture. Credit: Matt Small

Overview

Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery is delighted to be able to put on Pride of England, a community-focused exhibition celebrating the diversity, unity, and community legacy of the England football teams. Central to the exhibition are England’s Three Lions: sculptures co-created by artist Matt Small with young people in Ealing, which then accompanied the England Men’s Football Team to Germany for EURO 2024.

The Three Lions sculptures, created from recycled footballs with the help of local children at Pitzhanger and across Ealing, are a testament to the borough’s creativity and community spirit. Commissioned for the Football Association (FA), these sculptures travelled with the England team to Germany, each sculpture emblazoned with written and drawn messages of support, creating a “collective love letter” of national unity and pride to accompany the team during the tournament.

See Your Favourite Footballers
In addition to the sculptures, the exhibition will showcase portraits of football icons, including Ealing-born stars Bukayo Saka and Chloe Kelly, who have inspired millions.

Some of these works were created around the time of EURO 2020, a pivotal moment when the England Men’s Football Team, led by Gareth Southgate, captured the nation’s admiration by embodying unity and resilience. Southgate’s leadership, recently recognised with a knighthood in the New Year Honours, and the team’s refusal to be divided in the face of racism, encapsulated the spirit of a modern, inclusive England. These portraits celebrate players like Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, who stood against discrimination and became role models for a nation, bringing the country together in an unprecedented way.

Visitors are invited to engage with the exhibition by expressing what it means to belong to and have pride in your community. The exhibition will also feature photos and videos capturing the Three Lions in Germany with the football team, offering a special behind-the-scenes perspective on this international project.

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Artists

Press

Pride of England press release
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