Jonas Wood Turns Clippers Court and Jerseys into Artworks

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Jonas Wood, a contemporary artist from Boston who now resides in Los Angeles, is primarily recognized for his diverse body of work which encompasses paintings and drawings ranging from portraits, landscapes, to still lifes. His art has been displayed globally, with venues such as the Hammer Museum, the Broad, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in the L.A. region. However, his recent Los Angeles exhibition broke new ground: it was featured on the court and jerseys of one of the city’s NBA basketball teams, the Clippers, or, as Wood’s work has contributed to its popularization, colloquially known as the “Clips.

The story goes back three years, when a friend of Wood’s, who is an L.A. realtor and entrepreneur, was talking with the president of business operations for the Clippers, Gillian Zucker. During their conversation, Zucker mentioned that the team intended to blend arts into the Intuit Dome, the arena where Steve Ballmer’s team started construction in 2021, with plans to open it by the 2024-2025 season. Upon hearing this from his friend, Wood expressed interest in designing the court. His friend then said he would discuss it with Zucker. Not much time passed before Zucker approached Wood and offered him the opportunity to create a court for the team’s select games, as well as unique uniforms that the players would wear on those occasions.

Wood, aged 48, remarks that the NBA has a knack for art, particularly through the creativity of its shoes and clothing. He’s a long-time fan of the Celtics but has been regularly attending Clippers and Lakers games since his move to LA two decades ago, holding season tickets for the past five years. Wood expresses his deep passion for basketball, stating, “I can’t get enough of it.” He further explains that he incorporates basketball into various series of artworks as a figurative painter, as basketball is one of the many aspects of life that he frequently encounters and chooses to depict in his work.

Zucker and Wood opted to start their partnership a year prior to the opening of the Intuit Dome, during the 2023-2024 sports season. At this time, the Clippers were still sharing the Crypto.com Arena with the Lakers. For eight of the Clippers’ home games, Wood’s work was showcased in a less extensive manner compared to what would be seen at the Intuit Dome later on: the team’s logo was creatively redesigned and displayed both on the court and on newly designed jerseys.

Wood explains that they created numerous sketches, both quick ones and detailed ones with his design partner, and conducted extensive research on their past and present logos. Gillian advocated for a more unconventional and daring design. The final product was a logo that read “Clips,” a term fans and team owner Steve Ballmer were using more frequently, instead of the traditional “Clippers.” It worked effectively both on the court and on jerseys as Wood aimed for a 90’s NBA jersey aesthetic, characterized by simplicity, clarity, and a striking graphic element. The Clippers’ players and fans seemed to appreciate it, leading the team and Wood to plan for an even bolder design for the 2024-2025 season.

From November 17, 2024, to April 5, 2025, eight games scheduled at the Intuit Dome were labeled “City Edition” for the Clippers. During these matches, their players played not only in specially designed jerseys but also on an intricately designed Wood-inspired court. The court showcased the LA logo with two basketballs, accompanied by a large colorful flower and what seemed like wavy lacquer lines from a distance, yet were actually overlapping wood grain patterns on top of each other. As Wood explains, “I think placing a big flower in the middle of the court is quite daring. Essentially, they allowed me to paint a significant artwork directly onto the court.

Wood’s court-side season passes place him just a few rows away from the Clippers team bench. “The energy and dynamism right there is captivating,” he shares, “with the coach, referees, and players seeming almost larger than life. You can witness so many intriguing moments. It’s truly awe-inspiring. To be this close to basketball legends, watching them engage and interact? Incredible! I can’t help but wonder if one day I’ll reflect on this experience and think, ‘Wow, it was surreal that one of my own creative pieces adorned their jerseys and they allowed me to be a part of all this.’

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2025-04-19 01:54