From collectors’ item to art form: Topps showcases card culture
From collectors’ item to art form: Topps showcases card culture ADVERTISEMENT: To mark the launch of the new Topps Chrome UEFA Club Competitions 2025-26, Topps is bringing the fascination of modern trading cards to life in London – with art installations, rare cards, and prominent guests such as Robert Pires and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Representing Germany, collector and marker artist Ivan Beslic is contributing, among other works, a portrait of German football talent Lennart Karl to the international exhibition. Limited designs, premium materials, and embedded jersey pieces – trading cards are now more than just items to swap and collect; they have evolved into an artistic form of expression within sports and pop culture.
Topps tapped into this trend for the launch of Topps Chrome UEFA Club Competitions 2025/26 and hosted the Chrome Gallery in London on May 7 and 8. Trading cards as part of modern fan culture The curated exhibition showcased the stories, emotions, and cultural references behind modern trading cards. Art installations, rare cards, immersive storytelling spaces, and specially created artworks brought the passion for collecting to life in its many different forms – from a child’s first favorite player in their bedroom to a limited-edition card as a highly sought-after collector’s item.
Ivan Beslic interprets rookie Lennart Karl as Germany’s contribution Germany’s contribution to the international Chrome Gallery came from Ivan Beslic of Düsseldorf. The passionate collector and artist was represented with three artworks created במיוחד for the exhibition. His pieces interpreted players from the Rookie Class, through which Topps shines a spotlight on standout young talents.
Featured were German international Lennart Karl, Brazilian dribbler Estêvão Willian of Chelsea FC, and the Rookie Cards logo. The works were created with markers on paper and are visually inspired by nineties hip-hop. “It was only a matter of time before trading cards made it into an art gallery and found the right setting there.
Every card is a work of art in itself – regardless of whether it was painted, assembled in software, or created from photographs. Every single card has its own design with a creative source behind it. It’s great to see more support in that direction,” explained Ivan Beslic.
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