The Art of the Game 

 

Matthew Day Jackson at the Brooklyn Museum. Photo: Sukie Park/ NYCultureBeat

 

A public art program presented by ARTS 14C in partnership with the New York New Jersey 2026 World Cup Host Committee.

Created for FIFA World Cup 2026™, The Art of the Game transforms the world’s most recognized symbol of sport into a series of monumental public sculptures by twenty-three internationally recognized artists. 

The reimagined six-foot soccer ball sculptures are installed across New York City and New Jersey, inviting residents and visitors to experience contemporary art in public spaces throughout the summer of 2026.

 

Un programa de arte público presentado por ARTS 14C en colaboración con el Comité Anfitrión de la Copa Mundial 2026 de Nueva York y Nueva Jersey.

Creado para la Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026™, El Arte del Juego transforma el símbolo deportivo más reconocido del mundo en una serie de esculturas públicas monumentales, obra de veintitrés artistas de renombre internacional.

Las reinterpretadas esculturas de balones de fútbol de casi dos metros de altura se instalan en la ciudad de Nueva York y Nueva Jersey, invitando a residentes y visitantes a vivir el arte contemporáneo en espacios públicos a lo largo del verano de 2026.

 

Futura 2000 at Journal Square, photographed by Jonathan mannion

23 Artists for the 23rd World Cup

23 Artistas para la Copa del Mundo N.° 23/ 

 

 

Tomokazu Matsuyama's "Softly Distance" at Columbus Circle.  Photo: Sukie Park/ NYCultureBeat

#New York City

Mario Ayala/ Katherine Bernhardt/ Leo Castañeda/ Matthew Day Jackson/ Gabriel Fontana x Jeannette Slütter x All Sizes/ Edgar Heap of Birds/ Wyatt Kahn/ Gabriel Lester/ Tomokazu Matsuyama/ Ronny Quevedo/ 

Cemile Sahin/ Hank Willis Thomas/ Fred Wilson

 

#New Jersey

Bassim Al Shaker/ Kevin Beasley/ *Gail M. Boykewich/ Taína H. Cruz/ Futura 2000/ Dan Funderburgh/ Madeline Hollander/ Eddie Martinez/ Melissa McGill/ Bony Ramirez/ Nyugen E. Smith

 

 

Meet the team

In partnership with the New York New Jersey 2026 World Cup Host Committee ARTS 14C has brought together museum directors, cultural leaders, and arts professionals to guide the vision and mission of The Art of the Game.

 

En colaboración con el Comité Anfitrión de la Copa Mundial 2026 de Nueva York y Nueva Jersey, ARTS 14C ha reunido a directores de museos, líderes culturales y profesionales del mundo del arte para guiar la visión y misión de El Arte del Juego.

 

Charles Aubin, Independent curator.

Defne Ayas, Director of the Van Abbemuseum in the Netherlands.

Diana Burroughs, Executive Director of Project 14C.

Patrick Charpenel, Executive Director of El Museo del Barrio.

Catherine Evans, Interim Co-Director and CEO of the Newark Museum of Art.

Thelma Golden, Ford Foundation Director and Chief Curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem.

The late Agnes Gund, philanthropist, President Emerita, Museum of Modern Art.

Max Hollein, the Marina Kellen French Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Robinson Holloway, CEO and Founder of ARTS 14C

Glenn D. Lowry, Director Emeritus of the Museum of Modern Art.

Anne Pasternak, the Shelby White and Leon Levy Director of the Brooklyn Museum.

Lisa Phillips, the Toby Devan Lewis Director of the New Museum.

Scott Rothkopf, the Alice Pratt Brown Director of the Whitney Museum.

Eric Shiner, President of Powerhouse Arts and former head of Pioneer Works and the Andy Warhol Museum.

Jeffrey Stewart, Founder and Managing Director of Walnut Hill Advisors and Senior Advisor to Chairman & CEO of Loews Hotels & Co., Jonathan Tisch.

Dave Weiner, Interim President of Studio in a School.

https://arts14c.org/the-art-of-the-game