FUTURE ICONS SELECTS
I’m Happiest when I’m High:
The Ultimate Arts & Contemporary Craft Takeover
The Multi-Year Shoreditch Home for Elite British Craftsmanship
Following a highly successful relocation from its previous home on the South Bank in May 2025, Future Icons Selects returned to 83 Rivington Street for an expanded fourth edition in May 2026. Curated by founder Louisa Pacifico, the event has firmly established itself as the single largest collective showcase of craft makers during London Craft Week. This ongoing partnership has transformed our industrial space into a premier cultural hub, bridging the gap between independent UK artisans and high-value interior procurement teams, architects, and private collectors.
The 2026 edition was the exhibition’s longest and most ambitious to date, scaling up to a seven-day run from May 15th to 21st. The show explicitly focused on celebrating and supporting the UK's independent craft economy, with 95% of the featured exhibitors proudly based in Britain.
The Spatial Solution
Spanning over 9,000 square feet of single-level space, the venue provided the perfect layout for a fluid, luxury retail-style experience. Fine art, collectible furniture, and fragile ceramics require an environment free of multi-floor friction so visitors can fully appreciate the works.
The Gallery Arches: We transformed our three expansive industrial arches into a carefully curated, immersive exhibition environment. This raw backdrop offered a dramatic contrast that highlighted the rich textures of works from over 40 emerging and established artisans.
The Social Hub: While the arches housed the art, our outdoor terrace garden acted as the primary social and cultural heart of the fair. Throughout the week, it hosted a lively programme of food, drink, and informal gatherings designed to spark dialogue between the makers and the wider creative community.
Driving Commercial Opportunity
Beyond being a beautiful public exhibition, the residency at 83 Rivington Street is driven by a clear mission: to create meaningful visibility and sustainable commercial opportunities for contemporary artisans. Positioning the event in the beating heart of Shoreditch puts the makers directly in front of London's top design conscious consumers and commercial design firms.
To capitalise on this geographic advantage, the 2026 edition introduced enhanced VIP trade tours. These dedicated slots allowed interior designers, architects, and retail buyers to arrange structured visits to source unique, bespoke commissions directly from independent studios.
Key Venue Takeaways
The multi-year commitment from a prestigious organisation like Future Icons stands as a powerful testament to our venue’s capabilities.
It proves our infrastructure can comfortably safeguard and showcase millions of pounds worth of delicate, one-of-a-kind art installations and high-end collectible designs.
It highlights the incredible flexibility of our indoor-outdoor layout, showing how a venue can seamlessly transition from a serious B2B presentation space to a relaxed, premium hospitality environment.
