Camden Arts Projects, a bold new not-for-profit space championing contemporary art and film, opens its doors on 9 May with a major exhibition by Turner Prize-winning artist Martin Creed. Housed within a striking Corinthian-style building at 176 Prince of Wales Road, the inaugural show, curated by Hala Matar, features Creed’s immersive installation Work No. 3891 Half the air in a given space (2025)—an interactive sea of balloons that transforms the gallery into a realm of sensory exploration.
First staged in Los Angeles in collaboration with Dries Van Noten, the work returns to London for the first time since its 2014 Hayward Gallery debut. Visitors are invited to navigate the space, shifting balloons as they go, blurring the line between spectator and participant in Creed’s signature style—simultaneously whimsical and profound.
Outside, Creed’s iconic neon text Work No. 1086: EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT (2011) will glow against the building’s neoclassical façade, offering a wry yet reassuring welcome. Spanning 12 metres, the piece—a recurring motif in his practice—echoes fragments of personal dialogue, its ambiguity lingering in the air long after viewing.
The venue itself is steeped in history. Built in the 1860s as a place of worship, it later became the London Drama Centre, nurturing talents like Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, and Tom Hardy before its 2007 conversion into a gallery by the Zabludowicz Collection, who commissioned AHMM architects for the redesign. Now, with the addition of a screening room, it re-emerges as a dynamic cultural hub.
Adding to the energy, Little Bread Pedlar will set up shop inside, serving artisanal pastries with a twist—Charlotte Colbert has hidden miniature ceramic fèves in select treats, nodding to the French tradition of concealed charms.
Martin Creed: Everything Is Going To Be Alright Opening Friday 9th May 2025 EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT presents a thoughtful exploration of comfort, vulnerability, and the ephemeral nature of reassurance through the works of Martin Creed. Central to this exhibition are two iconic pieces: the neon phrase “Everything is going to be alright”, which Creed has repeatedly employed since 1999, inspired by a personal moment of solace offered by a friend, and Half the air in a given space, where the artist invites us to experience a room filled with balloons, playfully altering our perception of space and atmosphere. Both works embrace simplicity and openness, providing a reminder that, though certainty is elusive, there is power in moments of comfort and the joy of immersive experience.
Martin’s work embodies a generous expression of joy, elation, and love — an uplifting force that feels all the more essential in these turbulent times. It serves as a timely reminder that, despite the challenges we face, everything will, in fact, be alright.
Martin Creed’s practice—spanning sculpture, music, and performance—continues to disrupt conventions, while Hala Matar, the Bahraini filmmaker and curator behind the show, bridges art and cinema with equal audacity. Her debut feature, Electra, starring Maria Bakalova, arrives next month, cementing her multidisciplinary prowess.
Camden Arts Projects promises to be a vital new player in London’s art scene, where history, humour, and experimentation collide.
Launching 9 May | 176 Prince of Wales Road, Camden