Inspired by this summer’s Olympic Games, we put out an open call to Dazed Club members for creative projects exploring the idea of sport, movement and athletics.
Below, we share the first eight in a series of 24 projects selected from over 250 submissions.
If you’d like to find out about future Dazed Club open calls, see all the submissions and post your own work, download the app HERE.
Maria Kniaginin-Ciszewska4 Images
“My interests revolve around stereotypes and their presentation in culture. As an independent visual artist, I work between reality and fantasy, penetrating socio-cultural norms. By creating representations of the female form, I explore the boundaries of taboos and icons. I find artifacts of Polishness or, more broadly, Slavicness, and combine them with concepts of the body and interpersonal relationships. The Salto editorial is a combination of girl sport and sweaty glam, contrasts that attract each other” – Maria Kniaginin-Ciszewska
Credits: Photography and creative direction Maria Kniaginin-Ciszewska; styling, Dominika Konik, make-up Wiktoria Ziomek, model Lu Ostrowska.
“I am an independent songwriter, rapper, and singer from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Most of my music is in English and French, including my upcoming EP, ELLE, which we recorded in Paris right before the Olympic season. ‘Greatest’ is the single from this project and it was heavily inspired by Olympians as well as Black icons who shaped their sport and changed history. My intention was to create a song and visual that celebrates them, but also motivates us to be the best” – Aïcha
“I am Peter Matlowa, a 25-year-old skateboarder and self-taught photographer from Vereeniging, south of Johannesburg, South Africa. Through my work, I aim to explore ideas of identity and a sense of community or belonging in society. Having spent years living in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and my hometown in the Vaal, I have been documenting different pockets of skateboarding culture within my travels, which has been a way for me to connect with people and explore my deep interest in storytelling.
“As an artist deeply passionate about both photography and skateboarding culture, I’m excited about the opportunity to explore and document the unique intersection of these two worlds. Skateboarding is more than just a sport; it’s a way of life that transcends borders and brings people together across cultures. In South Africa, skateboarding has flourished as a form of self-expression and resilience, particularly in communities where creativity and innovation thrive against various socio-economic challenges” – Peter Matlowa
“I am a CGI artist and art director based in London. I was asked to direct this campaign for Gina Corrieri’s SS24 collection. The concept was inspired by photo-finish cameras used in sporting events such as the Olympics” – Jamie Seechurn
Credits: Art direction Jamie Seechurn; photography George William Vicary; styling Sophie Powles; model Iera Syira at Blue Agency.
“I’m Imani, founder and creative director of DAR, a youth culture community and creative agency based in Barcelona. Inspired by the lack of visibility for Muslim women in brand campaigns, I created a concept campaign that fuses sports and Muslim women, showcasing the beauty of diversity and empowerment. In this campaign, Street Court Queens with Lacoste, wanted to merge tennis sophistication with urban street style, featuring powerful and elegant Muslim women in hijabs. It redefines boundaries, celebrates empowerment, and highlights cultural fusion. Despite initial setbacks, my dedicated team and I brought this project to life with limited resources, driven by our belief in the power of representation” – Imani Naki
Credits: Creative Agency, DAR; Creative direction Imani Naki; direction and photography Laura Lobos; art direction Emma Formenti; styling Rico; showroom Back Row Vintage; Video & BTS Ana Madeleine Uribe.
“I’m a self-taught freelance portrait and documentary photographer from Seattle, currently based in Brooklyn and working across a variety of genres to capture the intimacies of daily life. My work is deeply rooted in community and how we serve and interact with one another. My photography has been featured in The New York Times, GQ, i-D, New York Magazine and The Fader just to name a few recent publications.
“Football – soccer – is a cultural expression; it is a way of identification. This project is a love letter to the ways in which people in New York, young and old, find ways to play and support the beautiful game despite shortages of space, lack of funding, and the inaccessible nature of New York City. By highlighting personal stories and showcasing the communal spirit of football, I aim to explore and document how the sport fosters community and connection among diverse populations. Football has long meant something more than a game to many, and my project aims to display the intimacy of this sport that I’ve experienced throughout my entire life” – Raphael Gaultier
“Having played soccer my entire life, seeing jerseys on a daily basis was a familiar sight. There’s history, culture, and prestige behind every badge. Their presence beyond the pitch has grown exponentially, inspiring bold new fans to the beautiful game. There’s no playbook to life, and rules are there for the breaking” – Isaias Ayala
“I’m a Ghanaian visual artist and photographer whose work blends emotions and social commentary. I usually draw from autobiographical inspirations exploring themes such as identity, mental health and spirituality. My work emphasises uniqueness and diversity and encourages the celebration of individuality.
“This work was shot during Ramadan and was to highlight an initiative by a local community soccer team, Nima Kings FC, in Accra, Ghana. The inspiration was to highlight the elements in the community that typically bring people together – sports, fashion and culture. The choice of a model being served tea in the image – ataya, a tea ritual that usually involves only men – reflects the teachings of Islam on the importance of women and our servitude to them” – Elroy Salam
Credits: Model Napari Isha; costume Nima Kings FC.
If you’d like to find out about future Dazed Club open calls, see all the submissions and post your own work, download the app HERE.
