7th October 2025
For its fifth season, The Gallery exhibits 16 powerful artworks in one of the world’s largest public art exhibitions, Presented for the first time in partnership with British Council Brazil in the leadup to COP30 in Belém this November, the artworks appear on thousands of outdoor digital screens and billboards across the UK and Brazil, in collaboration with the outdoor advertising industry.
The Gallery was conceived by Artichoke in collaboration with public artist and Creative Director, Martin Firrell, as a new kind of cultural institution bringing art that addresses the important questions of our times to the places where people live, work and travel across outdoor advertising space nationally and internationally. Martin adds: “Billboards enable The Gallery to bring socially important art to everyone, everywhere. Billboards include everyone in the conversation.”
For Season 5, artists were invited to respond to the theme, ‘It’s Not Easy Being Green’. The exhibition, curated by Bakul Patki, will bring an artists’-eye view to the climate crisis debate and will reach millions of people.
Featuring six direct commissions, one open-source artwork, and nine works selected from around 750 open call entries, the artworks range from photography to performance, sculpture to land art, and a striking data visualisation.
The 16 artists are: Justin Brice Guariglia (US), Ackroyd & Harvey (UK), Ed Hawkins (UK), Muhammad Amdad Hossain (Bangladesh), Chris Jordan (US), Deepak Kathait (India), Hayden Kays (UK), The Krank (Greece), Thiago Rocha Pitta (Brazil), Yinka Shonibare CBE RA (UK), Arnolt Smead (Netherlands/UK), Uýra Sodoma (Brazil), Hannah Starkey (UK), Olinda Tupinambá (Brazil), Venâncio Evensen Ulombe (Anglola), Vanessa Wagneur (Belgium).
Curator Bakul Patki says: "With this season of The Gallery, we’re working with artists to take on the climate crisis, one of the most urgent issues of our time, and they’ve responded with imagination, urgency and nuance. Whether it’s rage, resilience, irony or sorrow, each work offers a distinct perspective that brings us closer to understanding this complex, global challenge. I’m excited and energised to see these vital works out in the world, in the public realm where they belong, sparking conversation and provoking thought in everyday spaces."
Tom Birtwistle, Director British Council Brazil says: "The UK/Brazil Season of Culture is a celebration of the creative process – looking at how culture is developed, how it's shared and how it is experienced by people everywhere. There are few projects that embody the idea that art is for everyone better than The Gallery. Following its success in the UK, now it's Brazil's turn.
“It's powerful to know that millions of people, across thousands of locations in the UK and Brazil will collectively reflect on a topic as important as the climate crisis, all sparked by the power of public art."
It’s Not Easy Being Green is now being exhibited on outdoor advertising billboards and screens across the UK between 7 October - 4 November and Brazil from 14 October-12 November, and the artworks will become part of The Gallery’s continually expanding permanent collection which can be viewed at thegallery.org.uk.
Established in partnership with media owners Bauer Media Outdoor and JCDecaux, The Gallery is powered by and harnesses the global reach of outdoor advertising billboards, posters and screens to create the world’s largest exhibitions. Since 2022, The Gallery has commissioned 43 artists and reached over 200 million people through four previous exhibitions: Straight White Male (2022); The State We’re In (2023); No But Where Are You Really From? (2023); and A Real Woman (2024). Produced in partnership with British Council as part of UK Brazil Season of Culture 2025-2026. Supported by our Out of Home Partners: Bauer Media Outdoor, JCDecaux, Alight Media, BUILDHOLLYWOOD, Eye Airports, KBH Group, Crystal Clear Media, Bay Media and Outsmart (UK); and ALTERMARK, Hezagono, MUDE, RZK, Sinergy, Trevo, 55 Midia, The Voice, WEOOH (Brazil). With thanks to: Mubarak Ali Foundation and Embassy of Brazil in London.