Callum Eaton’s “Look but don’t touch” Exhibition
by Adriano Batista

Callum Eaton presented his new exhibition titled “Look but don’t touch”, a debut solo showcase brought to you by Carl Kostyál.
Embarking on a journey honed through the pursuit of photorealistic excellence since his days at Goldsmiths (BA Fine Art, 2019), Callum Eaton stood witness to a curious spectacle. Amidst an early open studio gathering, an intoxicated visitor, entranced by a lifelike portrayal of a conventional cash machine, attempted in vain to engage with its two-dimensional allure. This scene evokes the legendary tale of Zeuxis and Parrhasius, ancient masters of artistry, locked in a duel of illusion. Much like Parrhasius tricking Zeuxis with a curtain that was itself a painting, Eaton’s work holds a mirror to artistic deception.

Following his well-received exhibition “Hole in the Wall” at Paris’ Long Story Short gallery earlier this year, which introduced a collection of super flat, nonfunctional ATM machines, Eaton returns to the spotlight with his London debut. This new exhibition expands upon his exploration of overlooked urban elements, infused with a conceptual sensibility nurtured during his tenure at Goldsmiths. A poignant commentary on the rampant commercialization of modern society, Eaton’s pieces echo with a subversive depth. These objects, stripped of their utilitarian purpose, transform into readymades – remnants of an interaction-focused world reduced to two dimensions.

Eaton’s art stands in dialogue with diverse inspirations – from the stark industrialism of Soviet-era Constructivism to the Futurist odes to obsolete technological marvels. As a counterpoint, his pieces reflect a nod to Formalist evaluation, prompting viewers to appreciate art beyond its aesthetic surface. Street-side telephone boxes, now relics of the past, tell stories of digital advancement. Coca-Cola vending machines, invoking Warhol’s repetitions, mirror Eaton’s painstaking likeness. Elevators echo with memories of a bustling financial hub. With trompe-l’œil finesse akin to Louis-Léopold Boilly’s craft, Eaton documents the mundane, each canvas expanding his own cityscape like a Sims-esque universe.

In a playful twist reminiscent of hidden Easter eggs in classic portraits, Eaton’s presence surfaces subtly. He appears as both an apparition in the reflection of a Washeteria’s door and the embodiment of images from a self-service photo-booth. The artist and his art merge, blurring the boundaries between the tangible reality he inhabits and the flattened, simulated layers adorning each canvas.
CALLUM EATON: LOOK BUT DON’T TOUCH
PRIVATE VIEW | 17 AUGUST 2023, 6-9 PM
OPEN | 18 AUGUST – 19 SEPTEMBER 2023
CARL KOSTYÁL, 12A SAVILE ROW, LONDON W1S 3PQ
Office Riot
Moncler & Billionaire Boys Club partner on Special Edition Collection for FW23
Same Sonar DNA, just cozier. Lisbon, consider us officially obsessed. See you in 2026.
The message is clear: perfection is overrated, and self-expression should be free from judgment.
Mikael photographed by Thanos Poulimenos and styled by Thanos Koutsolampros, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
This Milan Design Week, Madrid-based platform Mayrit drops into the city with a double act that feels more like a mirage than a conventional exhibition.
AMIRI has just named Mexican boxing legend Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez as its newest brand ambassador.
Jacquemus and Timberland just announced their latest collaboration: the Timberland and Jacquemus 3-Eye Lug Boat Shoe, nicknamed “La Bateau.”
Fusing heritage and precision, the unveiled collection consists of 13 pieces, through which the spirit of racing, a central theme in the brand’s DNA, is channelled.
American rapper Kendrick Lamar is named as the new ambassador for French fashion house Chanel.
Kayden Hesketh photographed by James Garrow and styled by Lewis Stratton, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
Jacquemus’ new campaign, La Croisière, takes us on a quiet escape along the Nile.
Summer just got brighter. MR PORTER just dropped the new LOEWE x Paula’s Ibiza HS25 capsule, a collection that feels like a never-ending vacation.
Kirill Karpenko photographed by Igor Vavilov and art-directed by Daniil K, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
French fashion house CELINE joins the Osaka-Kansai 2025 World Expo with its temporary exhibition “CELINE MAKI-E”.
Temple of Love marks Palais Galliera’s first exhibition in Paris devoted to the work of avant-garde fashion designer and cult figure Rick Owens.
NBA star Jaylen Brown’s brand, 7uice, has teamed up with NAMESAKE for a new capsule collection called INTELLECTUAL CLUB.
A confirmation that many of us have been waiting for.
Dominic Albano started with luxury underwear—simple, sexy, and well-made. Now, he’s bringing that same vibe to swimwear.
Balenciaga unveiled its new High Summer campaign, shot by Roe Ethridge.
Prada’s Days of Summer campaign feels like a pause, a deep breath of salt air.
In the haze of golden hour and the soft chaos that is Coachella’s opening weekend, GUESS JEANS made its triumphant return to the desert — and let’s just say, it didn’t come quietly. For the fourth year… »
The Limit Does Not Exist was a collision of clothes, music, and performance, all vibrating at the same frequency.
For the first time, Converse and Kenzo are joining forces, mixing classic American cool with Kenzo’s vibrant energy.
This season marks a shift toward sharper structure and technical precision, but without losing the experimental edge that defines the label.
Lick the Star is a film, a feeling, a love letter to the way pop culture lingers—half memory, half dream. And like Room 79 itself, it lingers long after you’ve left.
Indelicato revisits shapes and styles that matter to him, turning them into something almost ritualistic.
Paris has long been the backdrop for romance, and now two brands are bringing that intimacy from the city’s streets straight to the bedroom.
Designed by Johnny Lu and printed on Munken paper, the book is a deep dive into what makes Aries stand out.
Dutch designer Duran Lantink becomes the new Creative Director of French fashion house Jean Paul Gaultier.
MM6 Maison Margiela and Salomon are back with another collaboration, this time for SS25.
Unlike traditional grants or one-off prizes, this is a comprehensive two-year accelerator that provides runway production, mentorship, retail access, and a high-profile collaboration to set designers up for long-term success.