Alvaro Barrington and Raí
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About the artwork
A green felt banner stretches between goalposts high in the gallery space, and a painting celebrates the dynamism of football and its rituals, highlighting the pitch and all its shades. Created by London-based artist Alvaro Barrington and Brazilian footballer Raí, who is known for his long-standing commitment to social justice and collective empowerment, Raí and The Field (after Raí) capture the spirit of a game that belongs as much to the streets as to the stadium. The two artworks reimagine both art and football as a place for creativity, allowing the pitch to take new and unexpected forms.
Barrington’s work often begins with personal memories and grows into a collective vocabulary, blending paint, textiles and found materials to create spaces of gathering and resilience. Like a neighbourhood basketball court or a local football match, his work has an energy of people coming together. Similarly, Raí’s work with the Gol de Letra Foundation, which he co-founded to support youth in Brazil through education and sport, shows football as more than entertainment – and as a tool for solidarity, dreaming and building futures together.
Both believe football is “pop” because it belongs to anyone with a passion for it. Their piece becomes a celebration and a proposal – a visual statement of what football can do.
About the collaborators
Alvaro (cadet) Barrington AcB
Ima shine Anti-social extrovert
I’m from the far side of a small island
Wanna feel the thrust wanna feel the texture
Not really into small talk but always want a deep conversation
Biggest turn on real empathy not this pseudo cultural capitalist woke that people exercise now a days/ empathy that requires real listening and imagination around someone else’s lived experience.
Everything I experience is real
Raí Souza Vieira de Oliveira
Raí Souza Vieira de Oliveira, known simply as Raí, is a former Brazilian footballer and one of the most talented midfielders of his generation. Born in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, he gained prominence playing for São Paulo FC, where he won multiple titles, including the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup in 1992. His leadership and technical skills made him a key figure in the team's golden era. Raí also had a successful stint at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) from 1993 to 1998, winning the French league and several domestic cups. He represented Brazil in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, contributing to the team's victory. Beyond football, Raí is known for his humanitarian work, co-founding the Gol de Letra Foundation, which supports education for underprivileged youth in Brazil. He is currently an ambassador for Paris FC, a partner at Raí+Velasco, and in 2024, he completed a Master's in Public Policy at Sciences Po. His legacy extends beyond the pitch, making him an icon in both sports and social activism
Football City, Art United.
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