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Edgar Heap of Birds  

Murray Park
Long Island City, NYC
2022 “Neufs for Hawaii”


In October 2022, we partnered with MoMA PS1 and artist Edgar Heap of Birds to create a powerful public installation honoring Indigenous sovereignty, cultural expression, and community through art and sport.

Internationally known for his work across sculpture, painting, and public art, Heap of Birds uses his practice to advocate for Indigenous rights and visibility. For this project, Project Backboard translated his Neufs for Hawaii painting series into a large-scale court design at Murray Park in Queens, NY. The court’s striking blue color evokes sky and water—symbols of hope and Indigenous presence—asserting land sovereignty on a site deemed public property.

To commemorate the installation, the Shinnecock Nation opened the day with a land acknowledgment and musical tribute. Community programming included a jewelry-making workshop led by Tecumseh Ceasar at MoMA PS1, a youth basketball training session led by Dominic Tiger-Cortez, and a men’s basketball tournament, organized and hosted onsite by Kindred Studio.

Partners: MoMA PS1, Edgar Heap of Birds Studio, Shinnecock Nation, Tecumseh Ceasar, Dominic Tiger-Cortez, Project Backboard, Kindred Studio