Camden Arts Project

The Story

In a grand Corinthian building that has long served as a cultural sanctuary, a new chapter has begun. This landmark - once a Methodist church and later the London Drama Centre where actors like Colin Firth and Tom Hardy rehearsed - is now home to the Camden Arts Projects (CAP), a vital new force in the city's art scene.

Launched in May 2025 after the closure of the Zabludowicz Collection, CAP is the vision of artist couple Philip and Charlotte Colbert. Operating as a not-for-profit under the Contemporary Culture Collective, their mission is to revitalise the historic venue. Director Tom Keating affirms that CAP was founded to support emerging and established artists and filmmakers, ensuring their work is presented in free, accessible exhibitions curated by Hala Matar.

This new, community-facing incarnation builds on the site's rich history as a place of congregation. Once a space for worship and then for theatre, it has been reborn as a vibrant hub dedicated to making contemporary art and culture resonate freely and openly within the heart of London.

The Artwork

From the 15th October 2025 to 18th January 2026, the Camden Arts Projects is exhibiting the works of Ryan Gander, titled "I've fallen foul of my desire."

Internationally renowned artist Ryan Gander has built a reputation for creating puzzle-like artworks that challenge our perception of the world. This exhibition masterfully applies this approach to humanity’s complex relationship with time, value, and our obsession with "stuff."

Through a series of sculptures, animatronics, and installations, Gander encourages viewers to make their own associations and invent their own narratives. At the exhibition’s heart, an animatronic harvest mouse delivers a philosophical monologue on identity, becoming the show's conscience. Elsewhere, a vending machine that once offered a choice between €10,000 in cash or beach-gathered stones directly undermines conventional systems of worth and memory. Another piece, a graphite-cast actor, leans against the wall, recalling the building’s past life as a drama school and the endless waiting involved.

As Gander notes, the works are a reminder that “the power is in your imagination.” He uses these surreal and engaging pieces not just to question society, but to empower the viewer, transforming the gallery into a space for profound reflection on distraction, mortality, and the imaginative potential of time itself.

The Camden Arts Project is open Wednesday to Sunday and is completely free to visit.