🎨🏀0️⃣3️⃣8️⃣ Anaïa Hoard
By Anaïa Hoard
Anaïa Hoard. Photo: courtesy of the author.
Meet Anaïa Hoard, a multi-hyphenate artist, former basketball player, 2017 U16 European Champion, and 2018 U17 World Cup runner-up with the French national team who is helping to redefine basketball as a global cultural movement, not just a game.
Editor’s Note: This is Anaïa’s first-hand account of her transatlantic experience through basketball.
Anaïa, a true renaissance woman, emerged onto the scene at the youthful age of 20. Hailing from a family deeply rooted in basketball, with professional players for parents and siblings who followed suit, Anaïa initially channeled her dynamic and creative energy onto the court. Her journey commenced at INSEP before she embarked on a stellar path with the French National team, securing victory at the U16 European Championship in 2017 and clinching runner-up status in the U17 World Cup in 2018. Anaïa's journey continued Stateside as she donned the jersey of the University of Wake Forest in North Carolina.
Anaïa’s Story
Amidst my athletic pursuits, I nurtured a second passion for fine art. A self-taught artist, my progression was as pure and clear as a Steph Curry shot. My preferred medium, charcoal, breathes gripping and emotional realism into portraits, particularly those I do of athletes. The choice to blend both of my passions was one that stems from my love for how ancient Greek art depicted athletics. Moreover, for me, sports are an everyday thing that bleeds into everything I do. Athletes are culturally relevant because of all the virtues that can be learned and adopted through its practice.
Going to the United States for college felt like a logical decision as it merged my two passions. It was a perfect place to develop both crafts, and extraordinary to witness such passion and engagement when it came to sports in the country. It was a refreshing experience. Going to the United States was also a chance to reconnect with my American roots.
“I understood the motivation behind being the best at something. In France, I was used to seeing the most beautiful architecture, paintings, and sculptures. Eating delicious food and not really knowing why I loved it so much. As I journeyed through the United States, I finally understood that the reason why I love the arts in France is the same reason why people in America love sports.”
It was very different from anything I’d experienced before. Everything was bigger, everyone wanted to be the best at what they did. The mentality was very different, which I liked. In the United States the sky was the limit. I could merge Art and Basketball without anyone questioning it. In fact, most people embraced me more for it. It’s there that I really believed that I had a shot at pursuing my artistic career.
It’s the work it takes to craft something so breathtaking. The work that is put into sports by the players and the organizations is truly remarkable which is felt during the competitions. That same sentiment is shared when I see a beautiful piece of work that took years to craft. To be the best, you have to put the work in and that is a mentality that I believe is shared with both countries.
Determined to wield art for positive change, I actively participated in the Black Lives Matter movement at Wake Forest, designing warm-ups in support of the cause, which were proudly worn by student-athletes.
When my dedication and skill caught the attention of NBA star Chris Paul, who amplified my career by sharing my work on his Instagram page, I was very surprised. It was the first time that I could see myself having an artistic career.
Since that pivotal moment, my artistic accomplishments multiplied through numerous collaborations, including the ATP, the WTA, FIBA, New Balance, WSLAM magazine, and various private clients. My portfolio features striking portraits of renowned athletes such as Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, and Naomi Osaka.
The Sports Diplomacy Connection
Watch WFMY News 2’s Amanda Ferguson talk with Anaia about cultivating her twin passions here.
While in the United States, I was able to educate a lot of my teammates on the fact that other countries are not so different, especially when it comes to sports. I was able to shed more light on the universality of sports. Lucky for me, there were no language barriers, so I could answer any questions about how things worked back in France. A lot of my teammates who were scared about playing overseas are now considering crossing the oceans for the first time to play professionally in Europe. By studying art and playing basketball in the United States, I was very much dabbling with universal subjects so it was fascinating to see that both disciplines spoke to everyone I would come across.
I believe there are a lot of values in sports that should trickle down into society. By doing so I believe the world can be a better place.
I think by breaking the misconception that art and sport are different we can begin to have a more meaningful cultural conversation that can impact our perception of the world and bring about more cooperative efforts to make the world a better place.
Mapping the Connection
From Montpellier, France to North Carolina, United States
Further Reading/Resources
L’Equipe, Anaïa Hoard, basketteuse et artiste adoubée par la NBA.
Trust Sports Magazine, “UN DESTIN TOUT TRACÉ”.
NBA, NBA launches ‘Creator Series’ in Europe featuring specially commissioned artwork in celebration of league’s 75th Anniversary Season.
France Télévision, Anaïa Hoard : L'art du basket.
How to Cite This Entry
Hoard, Anaïa. “Voices: Anaïa Hoard,” FranceAndUS, https://www.franceussports.com/voices/038-anaa-hoard. (date of consultation).