Artist Samantha Woj painted Grey Cup work using CFL ball

Montréal artist Samantha Woj uses tools almost no one else in her field relies on — basketballs, soccer balls, hockey pucks, hockey sticks and even the occasional ski boot have become her paintbrushes, creating the dynamic, textured marks that define her work.

The technique began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when an ankle injury left her stuck at home shortly after completing her master’s degree.

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“I couldn’t be physically active, so why not be creatively active?” she said.

When Woj rolled a paint-covered ball across a canvas, she realized she had discovered something different. After posting her early pieces online, support grew quickly, including from Olympic athletes.

“I realized I had something going.”

Grey Cup commission under pressure

That experiment eventually led to one of her standout projects: a commissioned artwork for the CFL’s 2025 Grey Cup, which was auctioned live during championship week.

And with Rider Nation buzzing again over the newly released 2026 schedule, Woj said she can’t help thinking about that project and the pressure behind it.

Because the finalist teams hadn’t been determined when she received the commission, Woj avoided depicting players and instead focused on the Grey Cup trophy itself, scaling it up dramatically.

The size wasn’t the problem. The colour palette was.

“I used so many shades of grey that I kept getting lost,” she said.

She worked through sketches, reference photos and countless adjustments, finishing the piece just days before kickoff so it could be shipped in time.

She still doesn’t know where the painting ended up.

“There were four people bidding on it. I’d love to know who got it, it’s a big painting, and I have so many questions.”

A growing list of pro-league collaborations

The Grey Cup piece joined a portfolio that already includes work the NFL; MLB, including Toronto Blue Jays; NBA, including the Toronto Raptors and Oklahoma City Thunder; NHL, including the L.A. Kings, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs; and MLS, including CF Montréal.

Some pieces were created for team charities, while others were made for major events. Each one required Woj to adjust her technique, learning how each piece of equipment behaves on canvas.

Every object brings its own challenges. Basketballs and soccer balls easily fill large areas but struggle to produce thin, controlled lines. Hockey sticks and pucks offer more precision.

One tool, she said, earned a permanent ban.

“Ski boots,” she said, laughing. “They’re heavy. I did it once — never again.”

Working with sports equipment means adapting rather than forcing.

“You can’t change the shape,” she said. “You have to figure out how to communicate with it.”

Sports central to Woj’s life

Sports have always been central to Woj’s life. She grew up participating in soccer, skating, diving, gymnastics, swimming and dance. She also grew up watching the Montréal Alouettes.

She said the sense of belonging in fan culture continues to influence her work. “There’s a feeling of being understood and welcomed,” she said.

Her art is also tied to her experience with ectrodactyly, a condition she was born with that gave her two fingers on each hand. For years, she hid her hands under sleeves or goalie gloves. Posting videos of her painting process forced her to confront that instinct.

“It brought my anxiety straight to the forefront,” she said. “But the response was mostly positive, and it made me more confident in who I am and what I can do.”

With the FIFA World Cup approaching next year, Woj hopes to create one or two new pieces, though she’s booked solid through January.

Choosing a subject, she said, may be the hardest part.

“I’m Team Canada,” she said. “But who do I choose?”

Read more:

• ‘Let’s do this again’: Hardrick excited to be back with Riders for 2026
• Craig Reynolds says it was special to win the Grey Cup as he looks ahead to 2026
• ‘Rider Retro’ theme for 2026 Winter Classic charity hockey game