Satellite Art Exhibition & Auction of Soccer Ball Artwork take Center Stage at The Wilshire Grand Hotel

Continuing the celebration and excitement surrounding this year’s summer soccer tournaments, West Orange Arts Council extended its soccer ball artwork initiative with a special satellite art show on Thursday, July 16, at the Wilshire Grand, at 350 Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange. NJ. 

SEE MORE PHOTOS OF “2026 Wilshire Grand Hotel Art Event”

Attendees included the Mayor of West Orange, Susan McCartney, her husband, Joe McCartney, and West Orange Council Members Tammy Williams and Joyce Rudin. The Mayor and Sabrina Campbell Allen of DASH Safety Solutions were recognized by the West Orange Arts Council for their outright purchase of soccer ball art the preceding month at the West Orange Chamber of Commerce networking event at the West Orange Arts Center in June.

A special moment of the evening was the recognition of Grace Crane, the young West Orange resident whose ball art received the most votes on social media from over 40 balls created during one of the painting workshops the West Orange Arts Council offered to the community.  

Attendees viewed, bid, and purchased selected works from the exhibition. It also marked a celebration of the creation of a new partnership between the West Orange Arts Council and one of West Orange’s premier hospitality destinations. The Art of the Game exhibit features one-of-a-kind soccer ball sculptures created by professional and community artists, each transforming an ordinary soccer ball into an original work of art that celebrates the universal language of sport and the power of the arts to bring communities together. The exhibition is part of West Orange Arts Council’s ongoing effort to connect the arts with local businesses, tourism, and economic development while creating new opportunities for artists to showcase and sell their work.

Missed the event? There’s still time to own a piece of the experience, bid on an art ball, or simply make a donation. The Art of the Game Soccer Ball Auction remains open online, allowing art collectors and soccer enthusiasts to purchase or bid on these one-of-a-kind, artist-designed soccer balls. Every purchase and every dollar matters for supporting the Arts Council. Visit the online auction today to make a donation or to find your favorite piece before bidding closes at midnight on September 15th, 2026:

“We’re delighted to welcome the West Orange Arts Council and Art of the Game to the Wilshire Grand,” said Mario Cajas, General Manager of the Wilshire Grand Hotel. “Supporting local arts organizations helps strengthen our community while giving visitors another reason to experience everything West Orange has to offer.”

The reception’s online auction was developed courtesy of an in-kind donation by Techdesigno, allowing visitors and supporters to bid on selected soccer ball sculptures and help raise funds for future arts programming, exhibitions, and community initiatives.

The Wilshire Grand exhibition is one of several community partnerships developed through Art of the Game, demonstrating how local businesses, artists, and nonprofit organizations can work together to celebrate creativity while helping grow and flourish West Orange’s cultural and tourism offerings.

For more information about the West Orange Arts Council, upcoming exhibitions, or the Art of the Game project, visit www.woarts.org.

About the West Orange Arts Council

The West Orange Arts Council is a volunteer-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the community through visual, literary, and performing arts. Through exhibitions, educational programming, public art initiatives, and community partnerships, West Orange Arts Council works to make the arts accessible to residents and visitors, support artists, and foster cultural engagement throughout West Orange.