An installation built from drawings gathered around the world reflects the universal language of the game.
As football’s biggest international tournament draws closer, Bal Harbour Shops has become home to 12 Pentagons, a large-scale presentation by British artist and football designer Jon-Paul Wheatley that explores the relationship between making, meaning, and one of the world’s most familiar objects.
The project was unveiled during a private cocktail reception on June 10, where guests gathered in the Center Courtyard for an early look before its public debut. Against the tropical setting of the luxury retail destination, attendees enjoyed cocktails and bites from Slim’s while meeting Wheatley and exploring the work firsthand.
For Wheatley, the football serves as both subject and medium. The British artist and founder of the creative platform 12 Pentagons first built an international following through meticulously handcrafted footballs that challenged conventional ideas of form and function. His distinctive approach has led to collaborations with FIFA, Adidas, Major League Soccer, and Burberry, earning recognition for work that moves fluidly between sport, contemporary culture, and object-making. Central to his practice is an interest in human interpretation and shared authorship, themes that continue to shape projects that invite audiences into the creative process rather than positioning them as passive observers.
At the heart of the exhibition stands an oversized sculptural football inspired by Wheatley’s acclaimed Badly Drawn Ball series. Drawing from hand-sketched submissions contributed by participants around the world, the piece transforms a familiar sporting object into a reflection on individuality, imagination, and the unexpected beauty of imperfection.
Open through June 28, the experience unfolds across all three levels of Bal Harbour Shops. Visitors can follow visual documentation of Wheatley’s creative process, engage with interactive digital stations, and create their own football drawings. Those submissions are added to an evolving archive that continues to grow through contributions from around the world.
A selection of signed posters, collectible pieces, and limited-edition merchandise is available throughout the exhibition, offering visitors an opportunity to engage further with Wheatley’s wider body of work.
While rooted in football culture, 12 Pentagons reaches beyond the game. The project explores authorship, imperfection, and individual interpretation, considering how a universally recognised object can become a canvas for human imagination.
Presented by Bal Harbour Village, the project brings together contemporary culture, luxury retail, and football at a moment when international attention is increasingly focused on South Florida. The exhibition reflects the village’s ongoing commitment to public programming that engages both residents and visitors.
Following its presentation at Bal Harbour Shops, the monumental sculpture will relocate to Bal Harbour Village Beach from July 1 through July 27, extending its presence to the shoreline as the village marks its 80th anniversary.
Wheatley’s work offers a timely reminder that football’s influence extends well beyond the pitch, shaping conversations around culture, identity, and the ways people connect across borders.
Photo gallery: courtesy of World Red Eye.
