Renowned British artist Lucy Sparrow returns to London’s prestigious Lyndsey Ingram Gallery with her latest large-scale triumph: The Bourdon Street Chippy. Opening on 1 August 2025 and running for six weeks until 14 September, this immersive art installation transforms the Mayfair gallery space into a life-sized, entirely hand-stitched replica of a traditional British fish and chip shop – a playful, nostalgic, and utterly unique experience crafted entirely from felt.
Following the wild success of her 2021 exhibition, The Bourdon Street Chemist, at the same location, Sparrow reaffirms her position as a master of textile art and immersive environments. For over a decade, she has captivated global audiences by meticulously recreating everyday spaces – corner shops, supermarkets, bodegas – entirely from felt, filling them with thousands of individual, purchasable artworks. The Bourdon Street Chippy is her most ambitious culinary recreation yet.
Visitors won’t just observe; they are invited to participate. Step inside and find yourself transported to the quintessential local “chippy.” Order your Friday night supper – albeit symbolically – across a traditional counter rendered in soft fabric. Relax on hand-made banquette seating and soak in the details: walls adorned with felted menus, authentic shop signs, and even a gallery of sewn portraits celebrating the chippy’s famous fictional patrons. The sheer scale is staggering, featuring over 65,000 individually hand-crafted felt pieces. Sparrow’s legendary attention to detail shines through in elements like the creation of 15 distinct chip shapes in five different colours.
“We are excited to welcome Lucy Sparrow back to Bourdon Street for another of her felt creations,” states gallery owner Lyndsey Ingram. “[She is] blurring the lines between performance and installation art, all in her distinctive felt language. Lucy is one of the most important and meaningful artists of her generation.”
This exhibition also arrives following Sparrow’s courageous revelation in June 2025 about her long-term struggle with anorexia. Now in recovery, she reflects on the profound link between her lived experience and her art: “My relationship with food has always influenced my art – the two are inextricably linked. Over time, I came to understand that my practice had become a way to manage difficult emotions. Art is both my outlet and my motivation to stay well.” This adds a deeper layer of resonance to her joyful, food-centric creation.
The Bourdon Street Chippy promises a delightful, sensory-rich encounter with British culture, reimagined through Sparrow’s whimsical and technically astonishing textile art. It’s art as theatre, nostalgia made tangible, and a testament to the power of craft. Experience this extraordinary felt art installation for free at the Lyndsey Ingram Gallery, open Wednesday-Sunday (plus August Bank Holiday Monday, 25 August) from 1 August to 14 September 2025. Lucy Sparrow herself (@sewyoursoul) will be in daily attendance, making the experience even more special.