Artist Showcase 004 / Frederik Emil Pallesen - Denmark

Josh Steeples

When I first started this account back in 2017, it was heavily inspired by the rise of the bootleg toy scene that was popping off on Instagram at the time. There was just something about that raw, playful energy that really clicked with me. Mixing that with my other big love football felt like a perfect match. And somehow, here we are nearly ten years later.

I’ve been collecting toys for as long as I can remember, and I’ve always loved the naive style and sense of humour you’d see from some of the best unofficial makers out there, especially in the Mexican bootleg scene. It really opened my mind creatively. I started thinking, what if I brought that same carefree approach into football? Not taking it too seriously, just have fun with it. It felt like there was so much room to push creative football boundaries at the time.

It’s been amazing to watch how platforms like Instagram and TikTok have grown over the years. Every day there are new designers, photographers, videographers, painters, from all kinds of creative backgrounds putting their work out into the world. And honestly, it’s been such a privilege to connect and collaborate with so many talented people from all over the globe along the way.

Over time, it’s kind of turned into a tradition to reach out to a wide mix of artists each year and bring them together for an annual exhibition online, and sometimes in person too. The last three in particular have been real labours of love. They’ve never been about money, just pure passion very much in the spirit of the bootleg toy scene that inspired everything in the first place. It all kicked off with the R9 exhibition in 2024, then we celebrated the world of Footix, and most recently, this past December, we paid tribute to what might just be the greatest football game ever made: Pro Evolution Soccer (PES).

For this exhibition it finally felt like the time was right to link up with one of my favourite bootleg toy makers out there and he just happens to focus on footballers. It couldn't be any more perfect. So let me introduce you to the wild Danish toy maker Frederik Emil Pallesen for those who don't already know him. @ frederikemilpallesen

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you started out as an artist / illustrator?

My name is Frederik Emil Pallesen and I’m an artist based in Aarhus, Denmark. I’ve been drawing since I was a kid, mostly football players, weapons and characters with way too many muscles during school hours. My very first clay figure was made in the early 2000s when I “borrowed” a lump of clay at school and created a very abstract Robert Pires sculpture, which ended up in a small shrine surrounded by my Arsenal merch.

In my early twenties I painted my first canvas, and I haven’t been able to let it go since. Today I work across painting, clay and toy-making. When I started making toys, something really clicked, it allowed me to combine everything I love in one piece: the hunt for old figures at flea markets, painting the back cards, and sculpting the characters themselves. It just felt like the most natural extension of everything I’ve always been drawn to.

What or who’s your biggest inspiration when it comes to your work?

My biggest inspiration has always been my grandmother. I grew up surrounded by her paintings, and they taught me that art doesn’t need to be technically perfect for you to fall in love with it. She painted simply because it brought her joy, and that mindset has always inspired me.

Looking a bit further out into the world, I’m very inspired by Hermannsburg Pottery. Their work has this beautiful naïve style where painting and sculpture blend together in the same piece, and their football-themed works are especially incredible.

A lot of my ideas come from everyday life in the outskirts of Denmark, as well as from pop culture, sports, TV and memes, all the small things that shape the world I love to play with.

@Hermannsburg Pottery

Who’s your favourite other artists / creatives currently?

Sometimes when I discover a new artist I think, “wow, I want to try that too,” and other times I just have to sit back and enjoy their work. That’s exactly how I feel about @pol_edouard. I’m a bit obsessed with his universe at the moment from his drawings to his toys. It’s raw, bold, and full of the characters I love myself. I’m honestly a little jealous of his talent.

@ pol_edouard

Another artist I really admire is Mark Todd, who makes some of the coolest action figures out there. They’re full of humour and have inspired me to loosen up in my own figure-making, letting them look more like the way I paint.

@mark_todd

Who would you like to work with in the future

Sorry for this, @astorelike94, but a secret dream of mine has actually been to work with you. I’ve been a big fan of your project for a long time the way you bring artists together from all over the world and introduce people to creators they’ve never seen before. Being part of the latest exhibition was a huge experience for me, so continuing that kind of collaboration would be incredible.

Beyond that, I’m open to collaborating with anyone who enjoys nostalgia, humour and a slightly strange approach to art.

And of course… The Arsenal.

What’s your next project or goal as an artist?

My next project will definitely stay in the football universe. I’m planning a collaboration with my fellow Danish football artist @daarligttegnetfodbold. We’re still in the early stages, but it’s something I’m really excited about.

Beyond that, my goal is to show my work more in real life to be part of more exhibitions, meet more people through art, stay curious, challenge myself, and spend even more time creating.

What music would you soundtrack your work with?

The soundtrack to my football figures would definitely be music where you can hear the artists having fun, experimenting and keeping the pace high. That playful, chaotic energy fits them perfectly. Roland Cristal and Pop X are great examples of that vibe.

For my work in general, I think someone like Alex Cameron makes a lot of sense. His humour, storytelling and strange cast of characters feel very close to the worlds I try to explore in my art.

Thanks for inviting me answer some questions about my work

Frederik

If you want to check out more of Frederik’s work or get in touch, head over to his Instagram there’s a seriously impressive mix of bold, imaginative pieces on there. You can also find a selection of his one of a kind football creations available through my web-store at 5pm today (GMT) in the unofficial products section.

And finally if you ever find yourself in Barcelona, it’s definitely worth stopping by Real Vintage Football which is a brilliant ne3 vintage football store where you can get your hands on some of FEP’s Barcelona Legend figures in person.

www.instagram.com/frederikemilpallesen

As always thanks for reading