Created with 11 other murals for the 2026 World Cup Activation Events, “Striding Forward” turns the park’s bleachers into a playful celebration of the people who occupy them. Inspired by Montbellier Park’s active basketball and soccer culture and its intergenerational gatherings, the design focuses on a mix of feet and shoes belonging to parkgoers, athletes and even animals. A soccer ball sits at the center of one composition, with feet approaching it from different directions and turning the act of playing into a visual conversation. Bright colors drawn from the NYC World Cup palette give the bleachers a celebratory energy designed to remain meaningful long after the tournament itself has ended. The artist wanted to highlight the park’s accessibility and inclusivity by incorporating elements like hopscotch and a wheelchair into the mural.
