Within
Life-size basketball jersey sculpture
Artist: Sadie Rose
Within is a life size sculptural interpretation of a basketball jersey, used as a stand in for the athlete without depicting the body itself. The jersey is intentionally anonymous, with no numbers, names, or team references, allowing it to represent every player, as well as the fans and dreamers who see themselves in the game.
The exterior of the jersey is finished in a reflective surface, inviting viewers to see themselves within the form. This reflection creates a moment of identification, placing the audience inside the silhouette of the jersey and emphasizing the personal connection people carry to basketball.
Inside the jersey, the interior surfaces reveal hand painted blue skies and clouds, inspired by Magritte and impressionist cloud studies. This interior space represents the inner soul behind performance: the drive, discipline, and commitment required to reach the highest level of the sport. The work serves as a tribute to NBA players, as well as to the dedication and aspiration shared by fans who carry the game with them.
Form and Material
The sculpture is created from a real basketball jersey, shaped by hand to introduce ripples and movement into the fabric. Once formed, the jersey is hardened with resin to hold its sculptural shape and then painted. The movement in the jersey suggests energy and motion, as if the garment has been caught mid action rather than at rest.
About Sadie Rose
Sadie Rose is a contemporary artist based in Laguna Beach, California. She received her BFA from CalArts and is the founder of Sadie Rose Art, a self-run gallery and working studio where she exhibits and produces her work.
Her practice explores modern surrealism through sculpture and painting, merging realism and abstraction to create emotionally charged, dreamlike forms.
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