Back Story

The University of Miami had an idea to create a mural for their Athletic Recruiting Center and as an ode to their sponsor, Adidas, wanted to use the excess cleats they had on-hand.

Once this was completed the University had arranged for a local Miami artist to paint on the canvas. But first they needed a 20’x10’ canvas!

The Process

• The University of Miami mailed me 200 pairs of shoes to deconstruct (400 total individual cleats)

• I unlaced and recycled each box

• Using a heat gun I burned the bottom outsole off all 400 shoes

• Unthreaded the the heel and tongue of each shoe

• I cut the excess parts of the upper soles that were glued to the bottom sole

• Cut out the inside materials of the cleats to make the upper sole as thin as possible

• Sewed 10 separate rows of 34 upper soles one on top of another

• Sewed the rows together to create a 20’x10’ canvas

• With the leftover cleats I made a smaller canvas 4’x6’ for the University of Miami to use

The University of Miami now has this 1-of-a-kind piece hanging in their Athletic Recruiting Center. They took advantage of an opportunity to recycle their excess apparel and pay homage to Miami’s historic art scene by making this mural.

Press Release