Picnic, Objects in Public: London Open Call
Open call for sculpture and performance artists to transform domestic objects in London's public spaces. Free to enter.
Picnic, Objects in Public is an experimental public art project inviting artists to explore the transformation of everyday domestic objects within outdoor public environments in London. The project examines what happens when familiar household items—tables, chairs, utensils, beds, storage units and cleaning tools—are removed from private interiors and placed in public spaces like streets and parks.
The concept treats 'picnic' as a spatial strategy rather than leisure, creating a condition where boundaries between interior and exterior, private and public blur. Artists are encouraged to use sculpture, performance, action-based installation and bodily interventions to temporarily relocate fragments of domestic life outdoors. Selected works will disrupt everyday purposes of objects through misuse, reconfiguration and bodily engagement.
The exhibition will take place in a designated street or park in the Kensington area of London, unfolding as a temporary, evolving situation shaped by artworks, the site and public encounters. This is a free open call with no participation fees. Selected artists are responsible for installation on-site, with emphasis on experimentation, adaptability and responsiveness rather than polished presentation.
The project welcomes sculptural works, performance art, action-based installations and hybrid practices that engage with urban space, public audiences and everyday materials. Artists should consider portability, durability and ease of installation for outdoor environments. Proposals that use or transform domestic objects, engage directly with public space and embrace unpredictability are particularly encouraged. The project provides curatorial framework, professional photographic documentation and potential media coverage.