Dunwoody celebrates soccer with ball art contest and exhibit

Those who find standard black-and-white soccer balls a bit lacking in pizzazz have the opportunity to add their own flair to the iconic piece of sports equipment. They also may win such prizes as party packages, restaurant gift cards, and hotel stays for their efforts.  

Create Dunwoody has announced that it is inviting residents of all ages to participate in its Soccer Ball Art Exhibit, a communitywide initiative turning soccer balls into original works of art. 

The Soccer Ball Art Exhibit is among the ways Dunwoody is joining the rest of metro Atlanta’s enthusiasm for a worldwide sports event as Atlanta hosts games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

“The project celebrates creativity, community engagement, and the excitement of summer soccer by showcasing decorated balls at three dedicated Soccer Ball Art Walls located at Politan Row at Ashford Lane, CT Cantina & Taqueria at Campus 244, and Big Play, which will also be featured at summer watch party events,” states the Create Dunwoody announcement.  Collection boxes are located next to each wall, allowing participants to submit completed soccer balls any time the businesses are open. 

Participants can create designs at pop-up workshops or at home and submit them for judging. Upcoming workshops include one on High Street on Wednesday, July 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fee is $8; additional workshops are to be announced, according to Create Dunwoody. 

In addition to joining a Create Dunwoody sponsored pop-up, residents may create their own pop-ups or simply purchase their own traditional soccer balls then decorate them using supplies provided by Create Dunwoody. Participants may be artists or non-artists and may enter as individuals, teams, schools, neighborhoods or companies.  

Soccer balls have gone through many design changes over the sport’s multi-century existence. The familiar black-and-white ball now associated with the sport, however, has a much shorter history. It was introduced at the 1970 World Cup as the Adidas Telstar, according to soccerrondo.com, which calls itself the website for all things soccer. Telstar’s 32-panel design with its 12 black pentagonal panels and 20 white hexagonal panels is now the game’s standard.  

“The choice of black and white for the Telstar was deliberate. It was crafted to stand out on the monochrome television screens of the era, ensuring that the ball was easily visible to viewers at home. This consideration for television audiences marked a new era in the design of soccer equipment,” according to soccerrondo.com. 

“The Soccer Ball Art Exhibit is about bringing people together through creativity,” said Rosemary Watts, executive director of Create Dunwoody. “Whether someone considers themselves an artist or not, everyone can participate. This is a chance for our community to celebrate the excitement of summer soccer, get creative, and share in a fun, engaging experience.” 

Selected balls will be displayed on the three Art Walls and on the Soccer Ball Art Exhibit webpage, Create Dunwoody states in its announcement, adding, “Community voting will begin soon, so everyone is encouraged to view the artwork online and cast votes for favorites.” 

Winners will be announced during watch parties at Campus 244 on Wednesday, July 15, Ashford Lane on Sunday, July 19, and Big Play on a date to be announced, giving participants multiple opportunities to celebrate and see the most artistically decorated soccer balls in person, according to Create Dunwoody. 

Prizes include cocktail parties, hotel stays, restaurant gift cards, party packages, Mathnasium scholarships, Rush Union awards, and more. A portion of the balls will be donated to local nonprofits and schools. 

The exhibit is made possible through partnerships with Rush Union, Campus 244, Ashford Lane, High Street, Big Play, and “other local supporters who share Create Dunwoody’s mission of connecting people through creativity and placemaking,” Create Dunwoody said. Additionally, local Dunwoody carpenter Keith Grant donated his time and skills to make the Soccer Ball Art Walls. 

For more information and to participate, visit https://www.createdunwoody.org/soccerart.