Created with 11 other murals for the 2026 World Cup Activation Events, “The Language of Play” mural explores play as a universal language, using the many ways New Yorkers enjoy parks to connect three separate walls into one story. Children kick balls and jump rope, while a Mourning Warbler, a bird seen in Staten Island during its spring migration, and a monarch butterfly connect the scenes to the borough’s natural environment. One wall depicts two people of different ages and backgrounds shaking hands over a game of chess, celebrating a classic New York park tradition and multigenerational play. The main wall brings together soccer, basketball, a dog, an ice cream and Italian ice vendor, the Staten Island Ferry and the New York City skyline. The mural’s octagonal shapes are inspired by a soccer ball, while the light blue at the top and green at the bottom mimic the sky and grass, subtly making the entire mural feel like a park. Soccer is present throughout, but the larger message is about the many forms of play that bring people together across generations, cultures and backgrounds.
