How did a giant soccer ball end up in front of El Museo del Barrio on Fifth Avenue in East Harlem?

It wasn’t the result of an errant kick from a match at Central Park across the street. It’s the work of artist Ronny Quevedo, who grew up in the Bronx and has a long connection to soccer.

The piece explores the Earth’s equator as a center that is movable and constantly being renegotiated.  

What You Need To Know

  • Art of the Game is a public art installation in New York City and New Jersey

  • It features 23 soccer ball sculptures created by artists

  • The sculptures will be on display until Labor Day 

“Thinking about home, what establishes a home, what establishes a place of rest potentially, but thinking also about the movement of migrants throughout the world, and especially throughout New York,” Quevedo said. 

It’s one of 23 big sculptures around New York and New Jersey designed by artists. It’s called Art of the Game, from the Jersey City, New Jersey-based nonprofit ARTS 14C along with the FIFA World Cup 2026 New York/New Jersey Host Committee.

(Spectrum News NY1/Roger Clark)

A museum committee was put together with the help of the late legendary arts patron Agnes Gund. The heads of New York City’s major museums nominated artists to create the pieces, which can be found at spots like Grand Central Terminal, Columbus Circle and Rockefeller Center. 

“Not only did the host committee underwrite this whole program, but they are giving 12 balls to the city of New York and the municipalities surrounding New York and New Jersey as a legacy gift. So they will be permanent installations around New York and New Jersey,” Diana Burroughs, the executive director of ARTS 14C’s artist residency program called Project 14C, said.

Burroughs says other sculptures will be auctioned off by Christie’s, with proceeds going to ARTS 14C, the nonprofit Studio in a School and the artists themselves.

Ronny Quevedo says it all makes sense for him a lot of his work revolves around the world of sports and developing community.

“For me, it was a big deal because my dad was a professional soccer player in Ecuador. I grew up around soccer my entire life, a lot of my work is around soccer. And so being connected to the World Cup was a real joy and a great opportunity,” Quevedo said. 

The sculptures will be out on the streets until Labor Day. 

To find the one nearest you, head to the website.