Lyndon Barrois Sr. Sculpts World Cup History from Gum Wrappers at LACMA

At LACMA's Resnick Pavilion, Lyndon J. Barrois Sr.'s solo exhibition 'Fútbol Life: Animated Sportraits' presents miniature sculptures of World Cup moments, crafted from Wrigley's chewing gum wrappers and projected onto a massive screen. The show coincides with FIFA World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium, including a quarter-final on July 10. Barrois recreates pivotal events from FIFA history since the 1930s, addressing politics, protest, and overlooked stories. His 'sportraits' include Haitian-born Joe Gaetjens, whose 1950 goal for the US against England is memorialized; Gaetjens later disappeared under the Duvalier regime. Another diorama depicts Iranian fans protesting Mahsa Amini's death at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. A life-sized silhouette of Brazilian star Marta, the most decorated World Cup player, corrects the marginalization of women's soccer. Barrois, who studied animation at CalArts and worked on 'The Matrix,' began crafting figures as a child in New Orleans. The exhibition runs through July 26.