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<p data-start="1341" data-end="1511" data-is-last-node="">A new public art initiative brings 23 artist-designed soccer ball sculptures to New York and New Jersey, celebrating the World Cup through contemporary art.</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><span>As the 2026 FIFA World Cup <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/fifa-world-cup-opening-ceremonies-mexico-city-shakira-toronto-los-angeles-where-to-watch">kicks off</a> today, New York's concrete jungle is taking on a new artistic shade of soccer. <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/travel-living/summer-events-concerts-free-things-to-do-in-new-york-city-2026">Across the city</a> and neighboring New Jersey, artist-designed sculptures inspired by the game's iconic ball bring together two global passions—sport and art—in a celebration that extends far beyond the stadium.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Titled <a href="https://arts14c.org/the-art-of-the-game/"><em>The </em></a></span><em><a href="https://arts14c.org/the-art-of-the-game/">Art of the Game</a></em>,<span> the public art initiative features 23 large-scale sculptures created by artists nominated by leading cultural institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Installed in parks, plazas, transit hubs, and other public gathering spaces throughout the region, the works invite residents and visitors to engage with contemporary art through the lens of the beautiful game.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Organized by New Jersey-based nonprofit ARTS 14C in partnership with the FIFA World Cup 2026 New York New Jersey Host Committee, the project aims to transform one of the world's biggest sporting events into a citywide cultural experience. "The World Cup is going to put an enormous <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/travel-living/everything-to-do-and-see-ahead-of-the-2026-world-cup-in-nyc-fan-events-pop-ups-hotels-experiences-shopping-watch-parties">global spotlight on our region</a>, and we saw this as a chance to bring together artists whose work can reflect the scale, energy, and diversity of this moment," said Alex Lasry, CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026 New York New Jersey Host Committee. The project also includes two artists selected through an open call, underscoring the initiative's commitment to both internationally recognized and local creative voices.</span></p>

Sculpture by Mario Ayala at Grand Central. Copyright of the artist. Photo by Megan Maloy. Courtesy of ARTS 14C.

Sculpture by Tomokazu Matsuyama at Columbus Circle. Courtesy of Alyssa Ki for ARTS 14C.

Katherine Bernhardt working on her sculpture. Courtesy of ARTS 14C. Photography by Megan Maloy.

Sculpture by Bassim Al Shaker at Exchange Place. Courtesy of ARTS 14C.

Futura with sculpture at Journal Square. Courtesy of ARTS 14C.

Sculpture by Leo Castañeda at Gansevoort Landing near the Whitney. Courtesy of Tim Kovolinko.

<p dir="ltr"><span>Fabricated in Brooklyn and assembled in Jersey City, each sculpture reimagines the familiar geometry of a traditional soccer ball. The participating artists approached the form through a range of media—from Katherine Bernhardt's spray-painted imagery and Tomokazu Matsuyama's UV-printed graphic compositions to Open Call winner Nyugen Smith's mixed-media interventions. Together, they transformed one of sport's most recognizable objects into a compelling canvas for artistic expression.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The initiative was the final philanthropic project championed by the late Agnes Gund, the renowned arts patron and philanthropist who passed away in September 2025. Gund shared a decades-long friendship with Diana Burroughs, executive director of ARTS 14C's residency program. The two bonded over a passion for both art and sports—an uncommon pairing in their circles.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"It was therefore a no-brainer for me to approach Aggie the moment I imagined transforming soccer balls into public sculpture around the World Cup, as I knew I would not have to convince her of the idea's merits," Burroughs said. Drawing on her longstanding relationships with New York's leading cultural institutions, Gund helped connect Burroughs with major museums and galleries, laying the groundwork for the artists and institutional partnerships that now define the project's remarkable scale.</span></p>

Sculpture by Wyatt Kahn at Gotham Park. Photography by Megan Maloy. Courtesy of ARTS 14C.

Sculpture by Fred Wilson at Hudson Yards. Photo courtesy of Alyssa Ki for ARTS 14C.

Sculpture by Edgar Heap of Birds at SIUH Community Park. Photography by Megan Maloy. Courtesy of ARTS 14C.

Sculpture by Gabriel Lester at Paseo Park. Photography by Megan Maloy. Courtesy of ARTS 14C.

Sculpture by Matthew Day Jackson at the Brooklyn Museum. Courtesy of ARTS 14C.

<p dir="ltr"><span>The sculptures will remain on view through Labor Day, with a handful slated for permanent installation and five to be auctioned by Christie's. Proceeds will support participating artists, ARTS 14C, and the Agnes Gund-founded nonprofit Studio in a School. Together, the works are designed to leave a lasting cultural imprint long after the final whistle is blown.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"The FIFA World Cup is the largest shared moment on earth—and that's exactly where art belongs," said Robinson Holloway, founder and CEO of ARTS 14C. "Art and soccer both cross borders, ignite passion, and bring people together in ways few other things can."</span></p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;"><em>Art of the Game</em> Artists and Sculpture Locations </h2>

<h3 data-section-id="1fapqwy" data-start="132" data-end="145">Manhattan</h3>
<ul data-start="147" data-end="624">
<li data-section-id="1hchyng" data-start="147" data-end="213">Katherine Bernhardt — Rockefeller Plaza (in front of Christie's)</li>
<li data-section-id="1mfafnf" data-start="214" data-end="279">Hank Willis Thomas — Rockefeller Plaza (in front of Christie's)</li>
<li data-section-id="1md77yp" data-start="280" data-end="324">Wyatt Kahn — Brooklyn Bridge (Gotham Park)</li>
<li data-section-id="i8ld1z" data-start="325" data-end="378">Mario Ayala — Grand Central (Pershing Square Plaza)</li>
<li data-section-id="15t0k80" data-start="379" data-end="441">Leo Castañeda — Gansevoort Landing (near the Whitney Museum)</li>
<li data-section-id="a38hj3" data-start="442" data-end="470">Fred Wilson — Hudson Yards</li>
<li data-section-id="17wcdr0" data-start="471" data-end="522">Ronny Quevedo — El Museo del Barrio (East Harlem)</li>
<li data-section-id="ffd81w" data-start="523" data-end="561">Tomokazu Matsuyama — Columbus Circle</li>
<li data-section-id="1erzbnw" data-start="562" data-end="624">Cemile Sahin — Alianza Dominicana Plaza (Washington Heights)</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-section-id="1dlyi2u" data-start="626" data-end="638">Brooklyn</h3>
<ul data-start="640" data-end="679">
<li data-section-id="za09d" data-start="640" data-end="679">Matthew Day Jackson — Brooklyn Museum</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-section-id="sgyd4v" data-start="681" data-end="691">Queens</h3>
<ul data-start="693" data-end="753">
<li data-section-id="a7tkwk" data-start="693" data-end="753">Gabriel Lester — Paseo Park (34th Avenue, Jackson Heights)</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-section-id="1l5x2ra" data-start="755" data-end="768">The Bronx</h3>
<ul data-start="770" data-end="803">
<li data-section-id="1e8dx6y" data-start="770" data-end="803">Gabriel Fontana — Fordham Plaza</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-section-id="xw0dmq" data-start="805" data-end="822">Staten Island</h3>
<ul data-start="824" data-end="867">
<li data-section-id="1jlu45q" data-start="824" data-end="867">Edgar Heap of Birds — SIUH Community Park</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-section-id="esho08" data-start="869" data-end="883">New Jersey</h3>
<ul data-start="885" data-end="1311">
<li data-section-id="1fhd1ja" data-start="885" data-end="928">Futura 2000 — Journal Square, Jersey City</li>
<li data-section-id="1fo1kce" data-start="929" data-end="969">Melissa McGill — Maxwell Pier, Hoboken</li>
<li data-section-id="y0knsy" data-start="970" data-end="1004">Madeline Hollander — Asbury Park</li>
<li data-section-id="o8vd8j" data-start="1005" data-end="1043">Kevin Beasley — Lincoln Park, Newark</li>
<li data-section-id="hjeh5c" data-start="1044" data-end="1085">Eddie Martinez — Newark Riverfront Park</li>
<li data-section-id="1nl92ii" data-start="1086" data-end="1127">Taína H. Cruz — The Yard, New Brunswick</li>
<li data-section-id="1qvcrwp" data-start="1128" data-end="1177">Bony Ramirez — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford</li>
<li data-section-id="1lud25g" data-start="1178" data-end="1226">Bassim Al-Shaker — Exchange Place, Jersey City</li>
<li data-section-id="1vpcs0" data-start="1227" data-end="1277">Dan Funderburgh — Mana Contemporary, Jersey City</li>
<li data-section-id="116gntx" data-start="1278" data-end="1311">Nyugen Smith — City Hall, Jersey City</li>
</ul>

The World Cup Is Turning New York Into an Open-Air Art Gallery

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