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.
Lava Flow - Reimagining the Game
Product Details
This design was born from pressure, both creative and literal. With only 48 hours to complete the project, I chose not to chase perfection but to chase feeling. The concept of Lava Flow came from that internal eruption every artist experiences—the tension between control and chaos, between form and freedom. I wanted to turn that energy into something tangible.
While most approach customization through clean lines and traditional paint, I wanted to break the mold, both literally and figuratively. I reimagined the sneaker’s surface as molten terrain, where creativity isn’t confined to panels or outlines. The black, bubbling texture represents volcanic rock forming under heat and pressure, symbolizing the creative process itself—unpredictable, dangerous, but necessary for something new to be born.
I didn’t create a mock-up for this piece. Every decision was made in real time, guided by instinct and emotion. To achieve the look, I layered puff paint, leather paint, and black sand to capture the rugged texture of cooling magma. Once the paint cured, I sealed and shaped sections with epoxy, forming a glossy shell that caught light like fresh lava. Every ridge and crevice reflects movement, heat, and transformation.
This shoe isn’t just painted—it’s sculpted. Each layer adds depth and realism, giving life to an idea that can be felt as much as it’s seen. The use of black sand adds literal grit, grounding the concept in something raw and tactile. The blend of mediums blurs the line between fashion and sculpture, turning the sneaker into an eruption rather than a decoration.
Lava Flow embodies my belief that art should make people stop and feel something, even if it challenges what they expect. I wanted to prove that sneakers can go beyond colorways and branding to become storytelling canvases of texture and energy. It’s about evolution—what happens when we stop coloring inside the lines and let the heat of imagination reshape what’s possible.
In a world obsessed with precision, Lava Flow is about passion. It’s the courage to melt the rules and let creativity solidify into something unforgettable.
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
