A Kaleidoscope of Football: Why I’m Loving the New World Cup Look
As someone who’s grown up obsessed with football, the World Cup has always been more than just a tournament. It's a proper summer moment. That feeling of being outside in a sunny beer garden, surrounded by mates, flags waving, pints clinking, and the world sort of stopping for 90 minutes. There’s nothing like it. It’s pure joy.
So when I saw the new branding for the 2026 World Cup, it hit me in a big way. It’s bold. It’s bright. It feels alive. And more than anything, it captures that buzz I always associate with the World Cup.
This time, FIFA have done something different. They've kept the design simple but powerful. The core logo is a strong “26” with a photo of the actual World Cup trophy set into it. It’s the first time they’ve used the real trophy image in the branding, and it gives it a solid, iconic feel.
What I love most though is how the design expands beyond that. Each host city across the US, Canada, and Mexico gets its own colourful version of the logo, with patterns and graphics inspired by local culture. It’s clever, but not fussy. It lets the artwork flex and change while still being recognisably part of something bigger.
As a designer and image maker myself, this really resonates. I’ve always been drawn to big shapes, bold colours, movement and repetition, and this system is full of that energy. The animated shapes, the overlapping layers, the joyful palette — there are so many crossovers with how I think and work visually. It feels celebratory and modern, but also rooted in something familiar.
For me, football has always been about connection. Whether that’s in a park, a pub, or in front of a screen with a bunch of strangers who all suddenly feel like your best mates. And this identity captures that spirit beautifully. It’s vibrant, inclusive, and full of possibility. Just like the game.
Amalgamating visual styles to create larger-than-life paintings | Cato
London-based multimedia artist Toby Grant, aka Cato, takes the Nicer Tuesdays crowd through the development of his meticulously layered painting style, from early creative influences to the different materials and methods he uses to create cinematic scenes with theatrical dynamics.
https://catoink.store/
https://www.itsnicethat.com/nicer-tue...
https://www.mpb.com/en-uk
Olivier Mosset
What I Learned from Olivier Mosset’s Art Practice
I’ve been looking into Olivier Mosset, a Swiss artist known for his bold, minimalist work — think simple shapes, clean lines, and a focus on the basics of painting. What really struck me is how his approach can feed into my own creative practice.
Here’s what I’m taking away:
Simplicity speaks volumes: Mosset strips things right back, letting the shapes and colours do the talking. It’s a reminder that sometimes less really is more.
Question the rules: He challenges ideas about originality and authorship, which makes me think about how I can push my own boundaries and explore more collaborative ways of working.
Materials matter: His use of industrial materials highlights how the stuff we create with is just as important as the design itself. It’s got me thinking about experimenting with new textures and tools.
Stick with an idea: Mosset revisits the same concepts over and over, which shows the value in digging deep into a theme rather than moving on too quickly.
It’s a solid reminder that art doesn’t have to be complicated to be powerful. Definitely check out his work if you’re into bold, concept-driven design.
Following your fascinations is the true antidote to trend-led design | From Form
At February’s Nicer Tuesdays, the Dutch design studio joined us to share the origins of their playful, analogue approach. Giving us a peek behind the scenes into the objects and ideas that have influenced their annual creative campaigns for Amsterdam’s Museum Night, From Form’s founders demonstrated that creative inspiration can be found in the most unusual of places. https://fromform.nl/ https://www.itsnicethat.com/nicer-tue... https://www.mpb.com/en-uk
From Form’s Museum Night: A Flipbook of Colour
I recently watched a Nicer Tuesdays talk on YouTube with From Form, a Dutch design studio known for mixing graphic design, film, and set design in really playful ways. One project that stuck with me was their work for Museum Night Amsterdam.
They created a flipbook-style animation filled with bold colours and shifting shapes — a clever way to reflect the huge range of museums and experiences people could explore that night. Each frame felt like turning a page, capturing that sense of moving from one exhibition to the next.
What I loved was how simple but smart it was — the design wasn’t just eye-catching, it told a story about choice, movement, and spontaneity. It’s a great reminder that good design doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective.
If you're into design that’s fun, thoughtful, and full of character, I’d definitely recommend watching their talk here and checking out their work at fromform.nl.
Norma Listman & Saqib Keval
At Masala y Maíz, chef-owners Norma Listman and Saqib Keval weave their distinct cultural backgrounds into a pioneering dining experience in Mexico City.
Stumbling across the Chef's Table episode featuring Norma Listman and Saqib Keval was a revelation. Their restaurant, Masala y Maíz, based in Mexico City, is a bold expression of culinary innovation and activism. It masterfully weaves together Mexican, Indian, and East African flavours — a reflection of the founders’ rich cultural backgrounds. Dishes like esquites makai pakka blend Mexican corn with coconut milk and masala, creating a vibrant fusion of traditions.
But Masala y Maíz is more than just a restaurant. Listman and Keval have reimagined the dining experience by intertwining their political beliefs with their food. They challenge traditional kitchen hierarchies, advocating for fair labour practices and staff empowerment. Their kitchen isn’t just a place for cooking — it’s a platform for activism, addressing issues like workers' rights, sustainability, and the decolonisation of food.
What makes their approach so impactful is how seamlessly they link flavour with purpose. It’s not about shouting slogans but sparking conversations over shared plates. They’ve shown that a restaurant can be both a space for outstanding cuisine and a catalyst for change.
Masala y Maíz has redefined what it means to eat out — proving that food can feed both the body and the mind.
Imi Knoebel
Imi Knoebel’s work is a masterclass in simplicity and vibrancy. His bold, geometric forms and dynamic colour choices push the boundaries of minimalism, reminding me that even the most basic shapes can create powerful visual impact. I admire how he strips design down to its core elements, something I aim to reflect in my own art.
Max Cooper - Live at the Acropolis
Max Cooper's performance at the Acropolis on 6 July 2021 was filmed during Athens Epidaurus Festival in association with Plissken Festival and produced by Stabal TV. Max was the first techno/electronic artist to perform at the 2000-year-old Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the UNESCO-protected site of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Built in 161 AD on the site regarded as the birthplace of modern thought, yielding ideas that have inspired much of Cooper’s work, his hypnotic optics were be projected on the walls of the ancient monument. Max Cooper says, “Over the years I have developed my live visual to show to work with spaces, rather than just, in spaces, so that the architecture and beauty, history of the place becomes as much a part of the show as my music and visual collaborations. I'm aiming to make a spectacle of the theatre, and to complement it with my work as best I can.”
SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)
From Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson, the Oscar-Winning Director of Summer of Soul, SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) examines the life and legacy of Sly & The Family Stone, the groundbreaking band led by the charismatic and enigmatic Sly Stone. This film captures the rise, reign and subsequent fadeout of one of pop music’s most influential artists, but also shines a light on how Black artists in America navigate the unseen burden that comes with their success. Drawing from his own personal experience and relationships, Questlove tells an empathetic human story about the cost of genius, reframing the way we all engage with pop culture. Stream SLY LIVES! (Aka the Burden of Black Genius) on February 13 on Hulu and Disney+.
What Are You Looking At?
‘What Are You Looking At?’
Angela Charles shares the challenges of losing her sight as a visual artist, and her experience of ‘coming out’ to everyone after years of hiding it. Multiple voices weave narration and description: Angela’s iPhone, a philosophising Audio Describer, and her mentor, the artist Bedwyr Williams.
The film explores ideas of seeing, and questions our preconceptions in asking us, What are you looking at?
FESTIVALS
Official Selection: Hot Docs, DOC NYC, Ann Arbor, Hot Springs, Original Thinkers
Semi Finalist: Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF)
Commended: WOFFF – UK
Honourable Mention: LA Independent Women Film Awards, FilmHaus Berlin
CREDITS
Featuring : Angela Charles
Directed by : Liberty Smith
Produced by : Liberty Smith / Angela Charles / OSR Projects
Cinematographer / Editor : Liberty Smith
Narrated by : Christopher Flowers
Funded by : Arts Council England
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BIO
Liberty Smith is a British filmmaker, born and raised in London then Cornwall, now based in Bristol.
After a decade with independent production companies creating broadcast documentaries for a range of channels including the BBC, Channel 4, SKY and National Geographic, as well as commercial work, Liberty became a freelance filmmaker.
Making ‘What Are You Looking At?’ with Angela was a turning point in the way Liberty worked and her approach to creative documentary filmmaking.
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FOLLOW : instagram.com/_liberty_smith_
WEBSITE : www.libertysmithfilm.com
OSR PROJECTS : osrprojects.co.uk
ANGELA CHARLES : angelacharles.com
David Hockney - Sky Arts
A collection of Sky Arts programmes unpacking the life and career of acclaimed British artist David Hockney, providing an unrivalled exploration and celebration of the many eras of his work.
Ep 1. A Celebration: David Hockney: An intimate portrait of David Hockney, featuring interviews with the beloved British artist in London and Normandy, and new footage of a master at work.
Ep 2. In Normandy: David Hockney: The celebrated artist discusses his life and work with Melvyn Bragg in his Normandy studio, revealing his influences, inspirations and plans to keep on painting.
Ep 3. 50 Years On Film: David Hockney: Using over 50 years of archive footage, this film looks back at the life and career of David Hockney, one of Britain's greatest artists.
Ep 4. In London: David Hockney: In his London studio, David Hockney sits down to discuss his remarkable life and career, illustrated by a wide range of his vibrant and joyous artworks.
Link here to watch on Now TV
I Am Martin Parr
Since the 1970s, English photographer Martin Parr has held up a sometimes tender, sometimes critical and always mischievous mirror to our times, forcing us to take a hard look at how consumer society has shaped our lives. Discover the maverick behind some of the most iconic images of the past century on an intimate and exclusive road trip across England with the uncompromising Parr, whose subjects, frames and colours have revolutionised contemporary photography.
In UK/IRE cinemas from 21 February 2025.
Tickets at: www.martinparr.film
My sketchbook: sculpture drawings by Antony Gormley RA
Take a look inside the sketchbook of Antony Gormley RA.
“Art is such an important, fundamental way in which we are all agents in making a world”
Antony Gormley never leaves the house without one of his sketchbooks, or workbooks, as he calls them. Most of his works begin in one of these, and the interpretations of these drawings then take place in the studio.
People Like Us presents #NameTheBias
People Like Us’ Name The Bias campaign aims to highlight the stark inequity faced by ethnic minority workers in the UK. It features a powerful short film from award-winning director Naghmeh Pour and production company New Land. It features spoken word artist Yasmin Ali who performs an original piece, highlighting the need for change in the workplace. The film was inspired by an Oxford University study that found applicants from ethnically diverse backgrounds had to send 60% more applications to get a response from an employer, compared with an applicant with white British origin. The campaign urges urgent action from the government in creating a timeline for the ethnicity pay gap reporting bill. It provides guidance from legal and EDI experts, providing advice on best practices when talking about money in the workplace. More information: www.plu.org.uk
At Suffolk’s Pump Street Bakery, chef Hugo Harrison talks family and finding understanding in food
Against the farmlands of Suffolk as a hotbed of produce, British chef Hugo Harrison has forged a path in the food industry in spite of its pressures – caught between the humble lifestyle allowed by his environment, and the ambition and perfectionism that underscores his profession. Growing up to a cheffing father, and seeing his dedication to the kitchen contribute to his absence, the former head chef of Pump Street Bakery explores his relationship with food through the lens of family for short documentary Hugo, directed by George Foote.…read more at nowness.com
Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life
Link to watch full film >>> HERE
Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life is a poetic and intimate look into the life and work of one of the most visionary artists of his time, while also exploring the universal questions of what makes a fulfilling life.
Winner of the Documentary Feature Audience Award at SXSW 2023. Starring Geoff McFetridge, Spike Jonze, and Sofia Coppola.
For the Love of Grass: Joel Barney’s tender portrait of football’s unsung heroes
The independent director’s new documentary shines a warm light on the crucial, but often overlooked role of groundskeeping.
Full article: itsnicethat.com
Joel Barney’s For the Love of Grass really captures what makes grassroots football special—the people, the passion, and the love for the game. As someone who’s been on both ends, playing at local levels and following the Premier League, it hit home for me.
It’s not just about the matches but the community and the unsung heroes behind the scenes. The mix of real-life moments and cinematic visuals is inspiring, and it’s made me think about bringing that same authenticity into my creative work.
Stephen Sawyerr’s electric short film centres on a karate dojo in Harlem’s Little Senegal
With illustrated type and a healthy sprinkle of nostalgia, this London-based filmmaker has made a fascinating documentation of a karate-chopping micro-community.
Stephen Sawyerr’s How Can Not? is such a cool short film, set in a Harlem karate dojo in Little Senegal. It’s full of energy, with a great mix of movement and cultural storytelling. What makes it really stand out is how Sawyerr works with local performers to ground the story in its community
As someone who loves animation and type, I can’t help but see the dojo’s movements as a metaphor for design—every action feels intentional, like strokes in typography or frames in motion. It’s got me thinking about how those rhythms could translate into animated lettering—tying movement, story, and culture together in a fresh way.
In Long Island, American artist Stanley Whitney talks Agnes Martin, Rothko, and ancient architecture
It all begins with an idea.
Set amid pines and leafy green, American contemporary artist Stanley Whitney opens his world to Art Basel from his studio on Long Island for Meet the artists. Presenting contemporary creatives shaping today’s cultural landscape, for this episode, director Jeano Edwards expands the series through Whitney’s painting practice and the influences that have shaped his work, reflecting on the significant impact of his time in Rome and Egypt in the 1990s Looking back on this era, Whitney recognizes how altering his environment initiated a shift in his perspective, confronted by monumental architecture that transformed his understanding of space and density. “When I went to Egypt, when I looked at the Pantheon, they had pillars that were 12 tons,” he says. “I got a real sense of density, and that was the last key to the puzzle I needed to make my work.”…read more at nowness.com _______________________________________ Subscribe to NOWNESS here: http://bit.ly/youtube-nowness Like NOWNESS on Facebook: http://bit.ly/facebook-nowness Follow NOWNESS on Twitter: http://bit.ly/twitter-nowness Daily exclusives for the culturally curious: http://bit.ly/nowness-com Behind the scenes on Instagram: http://bit.ly/instagram-nowness Staff Picks on Vimeo: http://bit.ly/vimeo-nowness
Going Underground with Jamel Shabazz | Street Photography
It all begins with an idea.
In this artist profile, we visited street photographer Jamel Shabazz at his home studio where he is immersed in four decades worth of archival work. Most known for his vibrant images of everyday people on New York City’s streets and subway, Shabazz shares his core influences, philosophy, and process. Venturing back underground 43 years later, Shabazz reunites with two men to recreate one of his most iconic images, "The Righteous Brothers." “It's not about me,” explains Shabazz.“I'm just a vessel using my position to freeze time and then thaw the moments out later on so people can see them and heal, rejuvenate, or just celebrate.” Art for All is the latest project in a creative partnership with UNIQLO that began with the ArtSpeaks video series. Subscribe for our latest videos, and invitations to live events: http://mo.ma/subscribe Explore our collection online: http://mo.ma/art Plan your visit in-person: http://mo.ma/visit Commit to art and ideas. Support MoMA by becoming a member today: https://moma.org/join The comments and opinions expressed in this video are those of the speaker alone, and do not represent the views of The Museum of Modern Art, its personnel, or any artist. #streetphotography #nycsubway #subwayphotography #documentaryphotography #documentary #artistprofile #art #museumofmodernart #moma #museum #modernart