Tennis Reborn in Monaco, curated by The Art Trotter
May 15, 2025What happens when sport, sustainability, and contemporary art intersect in unexpected and poetic ways?
As a curator and art advisor with a deep commitment to uncovering distinct voices in the art world, I recently had the pleasure of organising and curating a pop-up exhibition in Monaco that explores exactly that question.
Titled Tennis Reborn, the exhibition introduced audiences to the Madrid-based artist Amova who transforms an overlooked object into colourful and funky sculptural paintings.
If you follow my work, you may have already seen glimpses of this project on Instagram. If you're discovering The Art Trotter for the first time: welcome! Let's explore the world where art meets sport, childhood memories and surprising material transformation!
Tennis Reborn, by Amova with a ball autographed by Aryna Sabalenka | © Amova/BONO
A Conceptual Practice Rooted in Sport, Social Ritual of Tennis, and Material Afterlife
I first encountered Amova at the Venice Biennale, and was immediately struck by her unique visual language and ability to merge tennis-inspired iconography with deeply personal and conceptual inquiry. Her work presents a curious reinterpretation of the readymade – breathing new life into used tennis balls and reimagining them as elements of visual and emotional expression.
What actually happens to a tennis ball after the match is over? How long does it last – and what becomes of it once it’s discarded?
These questions form the foundation of Amova’s practice. Her paintings invite us to rethink the afterlife of everyday materials and draw our attention to consumer culture and environment.
Tennis Reborn, by Amova with a ball autographed by Martina Hingis | © Amova/BONO
Tennis has been central to Amova’s life since childhood, when she would play with her grandfather on the summer days. Her artistic journey began in jewellery design, but it was during a match at the Madrid Open that the initial idea for Tennis Reborn crystallized.
After an extended period of research and experimentation, she developed a meticulous technique for embedding used tennis balls into the fabric of her work – turning waste into elegance, and memory into form.
SET 30-30, Amova, from the exhibition Tennis Reborn in Monaco, curated by The Art Trotter | © Amova/BONO
Series Highlights: From Rhythm to Cosmos
Her debut series, SET 30:30, features compact 30x30 cm canvases that pulse with rhythmic energy and vibrant colours – a direct nod to the tempo of the game and its scoring system.
These energetic compositions have become her most in-demand works to date, with collectors choosing their preferred colour combinations in the sets of two, four or six canvases together.
Tennis Blooming by Amova; from the exhibition Tennis Reborn in Monaco, curated by The Art Trotter | © Amova/BONO
In Tennis Blooming, Amova transforms the tennis balls into abstract floral forms – blooming shapes inspired by stars and cosmos.
The effect is both lyrical and precise: a conversation between the physicality of the game and the mental and emotional side of it.
To the left: Monte-Carlo Country Club © www.montecarlotennismasters.com.
To the right: Monaco Inspired by Amova, autographed by Andrey Rublev, from the exhibition Tennis Reborn in Monaco, curated by The Art Trotter. | © Amova/BONO
Because tennis is also a deeply social sport, Amova includes others in her process. She invites professional tennis players to sign used balls, which she then integrates directly into her compositions.
One such striking example is Monaco Inspired – a work tinted in the terracotta hues of the courts of the Monte-Carlo Country Club that hosts the annual Rolex Monte-Carlo Tennis Masters. The centerpoint of the work adorned with a tennis ball in its original colour autographed by the tournament's 2024 winner Andrey Rublev. The piece embodies the confluence of place, performance, and personal trace – themes that resonate across the Amova's practice.
SET 30-30, Amova, from the exhibition Tennis Reborn in Monaco, curated by The Art Trotter | © Amova/BONO
Amova’s Market Trajectory and Artistic Value
As an artist and jeweller, Amova works in small volumes. Each piece is marked by meticulous craftsmanship and technical precision.
Her works are increasingly sought after by international collectors, and are now part of private collections across Europe and the United States.
Are You Feeling inspired? One of these pieces could be yours!
👉 View available works, the artist's video message, and the full exhibition catalogue here:
https://www.thearttrotter.com/amova
To order a work, customisation queries, on guidance on the theme, size and color – reach out to us on [email protected].
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