Harris Elliott's 'Le Parlour' opens in London as a metamorphosing social salon

Multidisciplinary artist Harris Elliott, awarded an OBE in 2025 for services to arts and cultural diversity, has launched 'Le Parlour' in London, a reimagined social salon that will transform through multiple chapters until December 2026. The first chapter, 'The Collection,' features a marketplace-inspired installation of stitched-together vintage white shirts, referencing Elliott's childhood memories of visiting markets with his mother and his aunt Iris, a seamstress in a Peckham shirt factory. Located at The Casbah on Little Portland Street, the space will function as a listening bar, artist showcase, conversation spot, and marketplace for one-off collectables, including a T-shirt by Ayo Banton, tote bags from the vintage shirts, and a miniature 'house' sculpture. Elliott's personal family photo album is displayed on a plinth, and a two-metre-high mirrored sound system is encased in a frame-like 'house.' In September, the installation will evolve into 'Design for Sound,' featuring hundreds of vintage record sleeves from West Africa. In October, it will showcase emerging Ghanaian textile artist Ofe Amponsah, whose tufted works draw on the folklore figure Kubolor. Elliott, also founder of design studio Le Tings, previously curated 'Return of the Rudeboy' (2014) and 'The Missing Thread: Untold Stories of Black British Fashion' (2023) at Somerset House. He has styled artists including Damon Albarn, Kasabian, and Noel Gallagher.