By Emma Regolini
July 17th, 2020
Basketball courts are the perfect canvas for large-scale murals as well as creative and recreational activism. These spaces are often meeting points and cultural hubs for members of the community.
Founded in 2014 by Dan Peterson, Project Backboard focuses on transforming neglected court spaces into large-scale artworks for the community.
After Peterson began to notice the decaying state of some of the courts in his community, he began small improvements and touch-ups, eventually collaborating with local artist Anthony Lee on a Memphis court refurbishment, which became the birth of Project Backboard.
Peterson told Colossal that he prefers to work with local artists from areas who have a connection to the park or city where the court is located.
Project Backboard has expanded from Memphis to St Louis, Los Angeles, Baltimore, New Rochelle and New York. Using courts as a canvas for public art means that that it is accessible to all members of the community and has the power to transform neglected spaces.
We’ve pulled together some of our favourite court murals by Project Backboard and others from around the world…
