When The Game Is Over

This body of work is a visual meditation on identity, loss, and transformation—an exploration of what remains when the structure of sport, which once defined so much, is suddenly gone. As a former collegiate swimmer, I understand the profound sense of self that comes from being an athlete, as well as the disorientation that can follow when that chapter ends. Though these works center around soccer, they speak to a universal experience shared by many former athletes. Through collaboration, storytelling, and portraiture, I aim to illuminate the emotional complexity of life after sport—grappling with grief, nostalgia, resilience, and the rediscovery of purpose. From the heartfelt letter in A Love Letter to Soccer to the quiet vulnerability captured in When the Game Is Over, each piece reflects a different moment in the emotional arc of retirement. The repeated themes of reflection, shifting perspective, and holding on suggest the push and pull of letting go while still longing for the comfort of competition, community, and routine. This work honors the stories of those navigating athletic retirement and the questions that often follow: Who am I without the game? What do I carry with me? As an artist, I create to document these transitions—not just as an end, but as the beginning of something equally powerful.