British artist Ben Mosley has been confirmed as the official artist in residence at Team GB House, Team GB’s hospitality and entertainment venue at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Mosley will be based at Team GB House for the duration of the Games (26 July – 11 August 2024) immortalising on canvas the extraordinary stories of Team GB athletes. The paintings will be exhibited before being sold and auctioned with 60% of the proceeds going towards Team GB’s fundraising for future Olympic success.
As the artist behind the Carnaby Street mural depicting every British medal won at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Mosley is no stranger to capturing sporting action in paint. With an expressionist style influenced by Picasso and Matisse, Mosley has painted live at a range of events, from the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, to the Monaco Grand Prix and Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club. Many of his works feature real 24 carat gold.
Mosley said, “It’s an honour to work with Team GB once again capturing the success of our amazing Team GB athletes. Sport brings people together in celebration and It’s a terrific honour to represent my country through these paintings which hopefully can become a bit of history for collectors of art and fans of Team GB.”
Paris 2024 will see Team GB House open to the general public for the first time ever, offering fans the chance to rub shoulders with Olympians past and present at the breathtaking Pavillon d’Armenonville, just moments from the buzz of central Paris. With a nightly live show featuring Olympic legends – including the likes of Jessica Ennis-Hill and Chris Hoy – and other stars from the worlds of sport and entertainment, ticket holders will have the opportunity to join in-person medal celebrations with Team GB athletes and watch the biggest moments of the Games unfold live on the big screens.
Alongside Mosley painting live from Team GB House each day, a resident band, live DJ sets, and the finest British cuisine will provide the finishing touches. Tickets are on sale now via House.TeamGB.com.
Art at the Olympic Games
While Mosley was appointed as a Team GB artist for Tokyo 2020, COVID restrictions in Japan meant his works had to be produced from back in the UK, meaning the last time an artist formed part of the British delegation at an Olympic event was at the London 1948 Olympic Games, when art competitions were included within the Games themselves.
From 1952 onwards, the presence of the arts at the Olympic Games has taken the form of cultural exhibitions and festivals instead of competitions. What became known as the Cultural Olympiad has grown over the years since, with London 2012 accompanied by the largest arts and culture programme ever seen in the modern Olympic and Paralympic era.
The Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad is extensive, and aims to explore the connections between art and athletics, and the values they share.