05/02/2026
𝘈𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘦 with Wendy White opens today at the Arlington Museum of Art. Curated by Natalie Neale the exhibition explores the global cultural significance of soccer in celebration of the 2026 World Cup and features artists such as Andy Warhol, Kehinde Wiley, Hank Willis Thomas, Peter Phillips, George Afedzi Hughes, Darío Escobar, Juno Calypso, Felipe Barbosa, and Wendy White.
Image:
Wendy White
Green Brigade, 2013
Acrylic on canvas, wood and enamel artist’s frame, inkjet on UV vinyl
75 x 256 inches
𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘥𝘦 is a reference to the ‘ultra’ fans of the Celtic Football Club, known for their extreme loyalty and political displays in Scottish soccer. This work illustrates the classic rivalry between Scottish teams, Rangers and Celtic.
𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘥𝘦 is part of White’s Sports series, which explores themes of gender, the fragility and durability of the human condition, and the purity of physical expression. These paintings vary in their level of abstraction, with some featuring recognizable players using digitally manipulated photographs while others remain obscured. She often incorporates stripes, reminiscent of the iconic Adidas stripes, to frame elements in her work. By repurposing this corporate athletic symbol, she aims to deconstruct the traditional view of masculinity and heroic mark-making, exploring how contemporary identity is shaped by branding and public persona.