Arsenal legends Robert Pires and rising star Myles Lewis-Skelly made surprise appearances at a stunning new trading card exhibition in London, celebrating the launch of the Topps Chrome UEFA Club Competitions 2025-26 collection. The event, known as the Chrome Gallery, was designed to showcase how trading cards have evolved from simple childhood hobbies into collectible works of modern art and pop culture.
Held earlier this month, the immersive exhibition featured rare one-of-a-kind cards, art installations, and limited-edition designs—some even embedded with real jersey fragments. The goal was to highlight the emotional and cultural stories behind today's most sought-after collectibles, blending nostalgia with cutting-edge design.
Visitors were treated to several standout exhibits. The "Budapest at Night" installation used a telescope to reveal portraits of Champions League stars hidden within the skyline of the upcoming final's host city. A "Mirror Room" filled with Chrome cards created an intense, immersive collecting experience, while a massive "Anime Ceiling Mural" drew inspiration from specific card design subsets.
For true collectors, the exhibition displayed ultra-rare 1/1 cards and the "Chasing the Rainbow" sets, which feature a single player across multiple color variations. Düsseldorf-based artist and collector Ivan Beslic contributed three marker-on-paper works inspired by 1990s hip-hop, focusing on the Rookie Class. "Every card is a work of art in itself," Beslic said, emphasizing that such exhibitions give much-needed recognition to the creative minds behind card designs.
The exhibition also celebrated the journey of professional athletes with "The Rookie's Bedroom" installation—a recreation of the childhood space where many fans first start their collections. It was a full-circle moment for players like Pires and Lewis-Skelly, who once dreamed of being on those very cards themselves.
Whether you're a lifelong collector or new to the hobby, the Chrome Gallery reminded everyone that trading cards are more than just memorabilia—they're a canvas for art, a connection to the game, and a piece of sports history you can hold in your hands.