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.
Mondro Art
Product Details
This design is a reflection of my identity and where I come from. I grew up in the Bay Area with Mexican roots, and my work has always lived at the intersection of Chicano art, urban culture, and personal storytelling. I wanted this sneaker to represent me — my heritage, my home, and the pride I carry.
The shoes feature symbols that have shaped my upbringing and cultural memory. The Virgen de Guadalupe represents protection, faith, and the powerful feminine presence that has guided generations in our community. The Mexican eagle and pyramids honor our ancestral history and the strength of those who came before us. Monarch butterflies symbolize migration, transformation, and the journeys our families make to create a better life. The “smile now, cry later” speaks to resilience — how we learn to survive, laugh, and keep pushing, even through struggle. And the Bay Bridge ties it all to where I’m from: the Bay Area, a place that raised my creative soul.
These sneakers were drawn and painted entirely by hand using Posca pens and Angelus paint, then sealed with Liquid Kicks for a finished, wearable artwork. Free-handed , because I wanted the texture of the human touch to show. The process felt similar to tattooing, where patience, precision, and flow all have to come together. It’s the kind of work that requires presence, intention, and love.
What makes these sneakers unique is that it’s not just a design — it’s a lived experience. It has the visual language of the streets, the softness of faith, the power of ancestry, and the pride of cultura. When someone sees these shoes, I want them to feel that same pride — to recognize themselves, their families, their roots, and the beauty of our heritage.
These shoes represent culture. It represents home. It represents me
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
