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Nari Ward 

St. Nicholas Park
Harlem, NYC
2023
“Breathing Court”





In Summer 2023, we worked with artist Nari Ward to bring his distinct sculptural language to a public basketball court in Harlem. Known for transforming found objects into layered, metaphorical installations, Ward’s work explores themes of race, migration, democracy, and community. For this project, his visual vocabulary was translated into the court’s surface design by Project Backboard — turning a recreational site into a powerful, open-ended artwork, embedded in the neighborhood’s landscape.

To inaugurate the space, project partner Home Team led a site-specific dance performance on the court, activating the design through movement. The day continued with a community 3x3 basketball tournament hosted by Sacred Hoops, blending physical play with cultural expression.

Partners: Nari Ward Studio, Lehman Maupin Gallery, NYC Parks, Friends of St. Nicholas park, Home Team, Sacred Hoops, 5 Star Basketball, Project Backboard, Kindred Studio