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A painting of an empty green tennis court under a pale, overcast sky. Palm trees and dark green windbreaks line the perimeter of the court.

Artist Scott Sueme's paintings capture the places we play sport in a new light

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Date
15 October 2015

Canadian artist Scott Sueme’s latest series of paintings have a sporty theme from swimming pools to concrete playgrounds. Focusing on unusual angles or honing in on the abstract details allows Scott to provide an alternative perspective of these typically active places.

Sport is synonymous with action and dynamism, so it’s interesting to see Scott slowing this down and creating a wonderful stillness in his pictures. The empty chairs of ball boys sit against a lush green background and and the silhouette of a basketball is cast onto lined asphalt. Even when people are introduced into the frame there’s still a quiet calmness. The softness of paint and other media used on the artist’s birch panel canvases, enhances the contrast with his subject matter.

An illustration of a basketball player seen from behind, wearing a white jersey with the number “72”. They stand alone on a tan court, facing a crowd of spectators seated in the background.
Above

Scott Sueme: Three in the Key

A painting of a swimming pool from a high angle. Light blue water ripples over a dark blue tiled line and a white grid of tiles.
Above

Scott Sueme: Dry Side

A painting of a grey asphalt court with white and yellow painted lines. A dark, geometric shadow of a basketball hoop and backboard stretches across the surface.
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Scott Sueme: Bank Shot

An illustration of a bright, modern indoor sports complex. A green American football pitch sits beside a yellow running track, with a few small figures scattered across the space.
Above

Scott Sueme: Common Wealth

A painting of a basketball resting on a grey court. White boundary lines curve across the floor against a stark, plain white background.
Above

Scott Sueme: Drop In

A painting of a green tennis court, showing a white boundary line and the shadow of a net. Fine, dark cracks spider across the surface of the court.
Above

Scott Sueme: Ghost to the Net

An illustration of a busy indoor swimming pool complex. People lounge by a shallow pool while others swim in a larger lap pool marked by red and white lanes.
Above

Scott Sueme: Deep Area

A painting of two empty chairs with oval backs and cream upholstery. They stand against a dark green wall divided by a single horizontal white line.
Above

Scott Sueme: Ball Boys

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About the Author

Rebecca Fulleylove

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Rebecca Fulleylove is a freelance writer and editor specialising in art, design and culture. She is also senior writer at Creative Review, having previously worked at Elephant, Google Arts & Culture, and It’s Nice That.

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