Art
Where Art Meets Endurance
Words by Teneshia Carr
Images Courtesy of Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com
Last week at The Rockaway Hotel in Queens, a new kind of Summit took shape: paintbrushes and performance, banners and boldness, goals and gallery walls converged. The Art Arena™ Summit, presented in partnership with Glossier and powered by WOAH (Work of Art Holdings), unfolded across two days of programming, proving that sport and art share space and drive one another forward.
WOAH is a female-founded global art and culture firm based in New York with a mission to elevate the integration of art, business, and social impact. They are dedicated to investing in ventures that focus on art and culture, developing innovative business models, and providing strategic consulting services that prioritize cultural and social impact. Isolde Brielmaier, Chief Strategy Officer at WOAH, elaborates on one of their many goals: "We focus on working hyper-locally, engaging with communities to guide them to experiences they may not have had before. Our aim is to highlight the role of art and creativity across various sectors and aspects of life."
The Summit marked the first major initiative of Art Arena™, the newly launched media and commerce platform centered on elevating women in creative and athletic disciplines. From Mickalene Thomas' unveiled Championship Banner, a limited-edition work made from recycled plastic in partnership with Bionic Yarns, to a live recording of the Art Arena™ Podcast with Megan Rapinoe, the energy was vibrant, visionary, and unmistakably urgent.
"The Art Arena™ Summit was such an exciting moment not just for us at WOAH, but for the broader cultural landscape of art and sport," said Michi Jigarjian, founder and CEO of WOAH. "What made the Art Arena™ Summit so special was the energy in the room his incredible mix of artists, athletes, and thought leaders all exploring how creativity drives change, inspiring the next generation."
On Thursday, May 29, the Summit opened with "Power Players: Behind the Scenes in Sports and Art," where voices like Shana Stephenson of the NY Liberty, Kyla McMillan of The Armory Show, and Jessica Robertson of TOGETHXR explored the business architecture that scaffolds both creative and athletic achievement. Later, Gotham FC's Midge Purce joined arts philanthropist Sarah Arison in a "Gameday to Backstage" dialogue, moderated by Cultured Magazine's Sarah Harrelson, mapping the unique journey of women who straddle discipline and visibility.
The day's crescendo arrived with the unveiling of Mickalene Thomas' Championship Banner, a striking reimagining of athletic symbolism that transformed a symbol of victory into a canvas of reclamation.
That evening, artist and soul singer Lady Wray performed a sonic reminder that the spirit of sport and the rhythm of art are deeply intertwined.
On Friday, May 30, movement took center stage with a High Frequency Flow workout led by Nike trainer Monice Small, followed by an intimate conversation on wellness and self-image titled "You Look Good: The Inner Practice of Mind, Body and Wellness." Featuring voices like Ashley Weatherford (Into The Gloss), artist Marilyn Minter, and curator Hannah Traore, and moderated by Lindsay Peoples of The Cut, the panel pushed the discourse past aesthetics and into agency.
Later that afternoon, the Glossier Cabana Takeover turned into an immersive celebration of self-expression, culminating in a mural unveiling by sonia louise davis and WNBA All-Star Breanna Stewart at Seaside Playground a beautiful convergence of public art and community access.
"Art and sport speak the language of the soul, and the Summit is where diverse voices unite, forging a space for innovation, expression, and collaboration. Here, we honor the transformative power of creativity," said Mickalene Thomas, Art Arena™ founding creative director.
The weekend was more than an event it was a proof of concept for how institutions can convene thoughtfully. "Art Arena™ is born out of the belief that when we unite the worlds of sport and art, two of the most powerful cultural forces, we create space for new narratives, bold ideas, and lasting impact," said Jigarjian.
Through partnerships, performance, and purpose, the Art Arena™ Summit modeled what the future of cultural dialogue might look like: inclusive, intersectional, and unafraid to blur the lines between ambition and artistry. And if the Summit's closing mural left any lasting message, it's this: when women lead the conversation on the court, on the canvas, and behind the camera, everyone wins.
