Created in partnership with Rakuten, brought together thousands of custom sneaker artists from across the US and Europe. With Rakuten’s support, the competition became one of the largest creator-driven sneaker showcases ever produced, giving emerging artists a platform on a global stage. From thousands of entries, just 100 creators were shortlisted by a world-class judging panel featuring leaders across sport, design, music, and sneaker culture. These Top 100 designs formed the Art of the Game Official Collection - a rare, curated snapshot of sneaker culture at its most innovative. The journey concluded in San Francisco, where the finalists were flown out for a filmed finale with the Judges. This finale marked a milestone moment: a celebration of creators, culture, and the evolution of custom sneakers as a legitimate art form. Now, for the first time ever, you can own a piece of this history. Each Top 100 sneaker - whether the original pair or a made-to-order version in your size - represents a creator who rose above thousands to earn their place in this landmark Rakuten x Stephen Curry series. This isn’t just a sneaker. It’s a piece of the Art of the Game legacy - and a chapter in the future of sneaker culture.
Art in Motion – Motion in Art
Product Details
“Art in Motion – Motion in Art” is a hand-painted celebration of two worlds that seem far apart at first glance: fine art and basketball. I entered this competition as a visual artist, not as someone who grew up around basketball. I didn’t know much about Stephen Curry in the beginning — but I knew a lot about passion, discipline, and the power of expression. And that is exactly where art and basketball meet.
My design is created entirely freehand, using only two brushes: one large brush and one half-size detail brush. No stencils, no airbrush, no shortcuts. In a world where everything can be edited, filtered or digitally perfected, I wanted every line to feel human — imperfect, alive, intentional. Because movement itself is art, and art is movement.
The sneaker features reinterpretations of iconic artworks, each chosen for its emotional connection to Curry’s story and to the universal journey of passion:
Albrecht Dürer – “Praying Hands”: Symbolizing humility, gratitude and the grounded mindset behind greatness.
Katsushika Hokusai – “The Great Wave off Kanagawa”: Representing pressure, momentum and the power to rise above challenges.
Vincent van Gogh – “Starry Night”: Expressing emotion, chaos and the beauty found within struggle — a reminder that greatness often comes from the deepest storms.
Rembrandt – Portrait Lighting Style (Tenebrism): A symbol for being “the chosen one,” standing in the light while everything around remains dark — something every athlete and every artist can relate to.
I framed each artwork in gold, a color associated with holiness, excellence, legacy and timelessness. The warm beige tones represent earth, humanity, and the idea that we all come from the same place — no matter whether we paint, dribble, create or compete.
Across the sneaker, handwritten messages reinforce the deeper meaning:
“Movement is art.”
“Art is movement.”
“We don’t compete, we connect.”
“One language, a thousand expressions.”
This project represents more than a shoe. It is the idea that passion is a universal language. Whether through a brushstroke or a jump shot, we all seek purpose, expression and connection. And in that sense — art and basketball are the same game.
Read the full story of the artwork
This product has been made by the Creator previously and is part of their amazing portfolio. The Creator has listed this item as available to remade for clients.
Additional customisation elements may be available.
Own The Art. Wear The Story.
Discover the Top 100 sneakers from the CANVVS Global Competition - designs hand-picked by our judges from thousands of entries worldwide. Each pair is created by a rising creator pushing the boundaries of art, culture and sneaker design.
By owning one, you’re not just buying a sneaker - you’re supporting emerging talent, championing creativity, and wearing a piece of global competition history.
A HISTORIC COLLABORATION
