“Since I was a kid, it’s always been about football, football, and football.” British artist Mark Johnson gives us a glimpse into how he transformed his passion into a visual expression that allows us to relive—or experience in a new form—significant moments and details of the Beautiful Game.

When art and football meet consciously, they give birth to ecstatic, atypical, even iconic unions, and this young, multidimensional creative, raised in the birthplace of football, is the perfect example of this process.

From Stoke City to Roberto Baggio and the sustainable design of Betis Sevilla’s jersey, we spoke with Mark to uncover the connection between his artistic vision and football journey.

You were born in the homeland of the ‘Beautiful Game.’ How did you fall in love with this sport, and how did you integrate it into your artistic vision?

“I grew up playing football at every opportunity: in the street, with friends, anywhere I could… From the age of 11 to 16, I played in the Stoke City Academy, chasing my dream of becoming a professional. For various reasons, I wasn’t able to achieve that, and towards the end of my teenage years, I found myself wondering what alternative paths might look like. That’s when I focused on design. I’ve always loved football, but deep down, my true passion has always been art. I would draw anything related to football. After my university studies in graphic design, I started working in the field and, in the meantime, I opened my Instagram profile, posting my projects and ideas. What I thought was a hobby turned into my job.”

What inspired you to explore this particular combination?

“Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved street art. I’ve been inspired by artists like Banksy and urban works that leave you speechless. That’s where the type of imagery and imagination that fuels my work today was born. I especially felt the need to represent the fact that all great footballers, in some way, started playing in the street, surrounded by friends and family. It’s a shared journey. It’s my journey. So, I began recreating a series of goals and iconic scenes on walls, playing with their physical elements and transforming their meaning. For example, a pipe can become an integral part of an action and a football composition. Another kind of inspiration was the one related to brand communication. I’ve always had a strong connection with this realm. Advertising and commercials have taught me a lot: Nike and Adidas, mainly. One for their video campaigns, where the legendary ‘Joga Bonito’ series stands out, and the other for the creativity behind the billboards.”

What does football mean to you today?

“Today, I experience it in a somewhat more neutral way. I used to love Baggio and Serie A, or LaLiga, watching games all the time on TV, but now I can’t say I’m still as madly in love with the sport. That doesn’t mean it isn’t an integral part of my daily life, or that I’ve stopped following it closely. I still collect jerseys. When I was a kid, my father would give me new ones every Christmas and birthday. One of the most unique pieces I have is a 1996 England shirt from David Seaman, the legendary goalkeeper. My current profession has also given me the chance to connect with various players and I enjoy collecting their jerseys. Many of them reached out to me because they saw themselves in the artwork I created. These connections also help the growth of my social platforms.”

Are there any projects you’re particularly attached to?

“During the lockdown, I was brainstorming new ideas, and since I’ve always had a soft spot for Betis, I tried to combine their design with the concept of sustainability and natural elements. I built a white structure shaped like a shirt, planted seeds, and after about a week, the grass started to grow, recreating the vertical green stripes. That’s how ‘BIODEGRADABLE BETIS’ was born. Another project I’m particularly attached to is the Inter shirt. While studying the quilling technique, I immediately thought it was perfect for the Inter logo, which is based on concentric circles. It took me months to roll 23,000 paper spirals—a truly incredible and monumental project due to its size, it was almost bigger than my garage…”

Given these examples, do you feel more like a designer or an artist? And what direction is your creative identity taking today?

“When I’m asked this question, I always answer that I see myself as a designer. In design, there’s always a specific reason behind every choice; every decision has to be justified. Nothing is random. Everything is rational. And my approach to every project follows this paradigm. As for the direction of my creative identity, the goal is to work on more and more projects. In a few years, I want to look back and say I’ve accomplished quite a lot in this field. Right now, I’m waiting for something to happen, looking for inspiration everywhere, from books to the news… Football provides inspiration every day, every hour.”