Ikon and macLYON have teamed up for a collaborative exhibition that is tied together by the overarching theme of friendship.

Works by more than 20 artists from the British Council Collection and macLYON will be displayed, each interrogating friendship as a fundamental human relationship that is essential to individual well-being and wider society.

Friends in Love and War – L’Éloge des meilleur·es ennemi·es features artwork from renowned artists including Tracey Emin, Paula Rego, Sonia Boyce, Kenneth Armitage and Lubaina Himid.

The collection will also celebrate a number of local artists. Pogus Caesar’s stunning black-and-white photo series includes poignant street images of Birmingham, Tereza Bušková’s film depicts the city’s Erdington community, and Birmingham-based Luke Routledge takes a fantastical approach in a colourful installation titled Strangelets (2024).

Spanning painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, textile, film, sculpture and installation, each piece intends to unravel the intricacies of friendship in a contemporary world, exploring how this universal yet complex relationship empowers us to share life experiences, broaden horizons and build collective futures.

This exhibition, which is presented as part of Ikon’s 60th anniversary year, is supported by the British Council and is presented as part of UK/France Spotlight on Culture 2024 – Together We Imagine, with additional support from Fluxus Art Projects and Birmingham City University.

Friends in Love and War – L’Éloge des meilleur·es ennemi·es will be free to enter, and runs from Wed 2 Oct – Sun 23 Feb. You can find more information here.