What happens to a tennis ball after the match is over?

In Tennis Reborn, artist Amova transforms discarded tennis balls into bold conceptual artworks — celebrating the sport, sustainability and social ritual of the game through paintings and installations. 

VIP Preview Programme
Wednesday, May 7 at 18:00📍7Sky, Ermanno Palace, Port Hercule, Monaco

• 18:00 – Welcome & cocktail reception

• 18:30 – Art talk on the concept of readymade, followed by a guided tour featuring a highlight work autographed by a world-class tennis player.

      

Join us for an evening where tennis and art meet, and discover how a simple tennis ball, once discarded, is transformed into bold conceptual artworks — elegantly bringing the beauty of the game into your everyday surroundings. 🎾

Registration is mandatory.  

For private viewing appointment, media requests and queries – contact us on [email protected]

CURATORIAL STATEMENT

Tennis reborn by Amova

What happens to a tennis ball after the match is over? Where does it go? What is it made of — and how long does it last?

In Tennis Reborn, Madrid-based artist S. Amova (b. 1981) transforms these questions into sculptural poetry. Through her bold use of discarded tennis balls — a contemporary take on the readymade — she crafts works that are both visually striking and conceptually layered, exploring the intersections of sport, sustainability, and social ritual.

From the playful vibrancy of her SET 30:30 series — compact 30x30 cm panels pulsing with the rhythm of the court — to the delicate metamorphosis of Tennis Blooming, where used balls burst into floral forms subtly inspired by the cosmos, echoing stars and celestial flowers, Amova reveals the hidden beauty and afterlife of materials we rarely consider beyond their use.

Amova traces the historical legacy of tennis back to its origins — with a tennis-like game first emerging in the 15th century, rooted in earlier ball games played for over a thousand years. Once a sport of aristocratic courts, tennis has become a global sport. Her work Roots reflects this layered history, capturing tennis as a tradition shaped by time.

Amova also reflects the world of tennis through its colors — the green of the ball, the ochre of clay, and the deep blue of hard courts. Her palette draws from the courts themselves. This chromatic homage is paired with the social essence of the sport, which is equally central in her practice, with players co-creating her work.

Amova invites renowned tennis players to contribute used balls and co-create works by autographing the balls — embedding the presence and legacy of the athlete directly into the artwork. 

The color inspiration and social element come to life in the work Monaco Inspired, tinted with the terracotta tones of the iconic Rolex Masters courts and signed by the prominent player Andrey Rublev, residing in the principality. 

Ultimately, her art moves, stimulates and brings the social aspect of tennis into the exhibition room — and makes us converse. Ask yourself and your fellow visitors: Are you a tennis lover? Who’s your favourite player? What draws you to the game — the precision, the beauty, the ritual?

A meeting at the Venice Biennale led myself and The Art Trotter to discover Amova and sparked this collaboration. With this pop-up exhibition we honour the spirit of sport, sustainability, elegance, and excellence — values at the core of Amova’s practice and deeply woven into the identity of Monaco.

Amova has exhibited in renowned galleries across Spain, USA, Turkey, Italy, and Russia. Her collaborations include the US Open, Adidas, and tennis legends such as Martina Hingis, Aryna Sabalenka, and Daniil Medvedev.

We extend our sincere gratitude to 7Sky for generously hosting this exhibition and welcoming us into their beautiful space in Monaco. 

— Alisa, The Art Trotter 

 Curator and Founder

CURATED BY