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.”
Congrats @sskroughriders on the win 👏
— Samantha Woj (@SamanthaWojArt) November 17, 2025
What a game. I’ll never forget it.
Thank you @CFL for giving me the opportunity to make this artwork ❤️#greycup pic.twitter.com/ptwrYne48I
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.”
Congrats @InterMiamiCF 👏 Here’s a painting I did of Messi with a soccer ball as a paintbrush. #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/B0zeC9gaXI
— Samantha Woj (@SamanthaWojArt) December 6, 2025
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.”
Painting Trey Yesavage with baseball equipment as a paintbrush to celebrate his incredible season 👏 Let’s Go Blue Jays 👏 @BlueJays @MLB #WANTITALL pic.twitter.com/9Vb9XSZbKs
— Samantha Woj (@SamanthaWojArt) October 30, 2025
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?”
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