LA Artist Dani Kawaii Showcases "Hoop Dreams" at 2026 NBA All-Star Art Garden

Kawaii's ceramic installation celebrates the feminine experience of basketball through nostalgic and playful motifs.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Dani Kawaii, a Los Angeles-based ceramic artist, is displaying her art installation "Hoop Dreams" at the 2026 NBA All-Star Art Garden. The piece consists of slip-casted ceramic basketballs adorned with custom ceramic charms, iridescent beads, and upcycled basketball chain nets, aiming to capture the emotional and meditative experience of the sport. As a former collegiate basketball player, Kawaii seeks to highlight and advocate for women in sports through her thoughtful and playful ceramic creations.

Why it matters

Kawaii's work provides a unique perspective on the feminine experience of basketball, challenging traditional narratives and advocating for greater representation of women in sports. The NBA All-Star Art Garden offers a platform for emerging artists to showcase their talents and connect with a wide audience, fostering appreciation for the intersection of sports and art.

The details

Kawaii's "Hoop Dreams" installation features slip-casted ceramic basketballs adorned with custom ceramic charms, iridescent beads, and upcycled basketball chain nets. The artist aims to capture the nostalgia of a game-winning shot, the discovery of dirty socks in a gym bag, and the meditative stillness of an empty gym. Kawaii describes basketball as a "deeply feminine" sport, requiring "an incredibly sharp focus for the present moment."

  • The 2026 NBA All-Star Art Garden is taking place on February 13, 2026.

The players

Dani Kawaii

A Los Angeles-based ceramic artist known for her playful motifs on functional and nonfunctional ceramic forms. As a former collegiate basketball player, she seeks to highlight and advocate for women in sports through her thoughtful and playful ceramic creations.

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What they’re saying

“Basketball to me, is deeply feminine. It's emotional, radical, and requires an incredibly sharp focus for the present moment.”

— Dani Kawaii (nba.com)

What’s next

The 2026 NBA All-Star Art Garden will be open to the public from February 13-15, 2026, allowing visitors to experience Dani Kawaii's "Hoop Dreams" installation and other works by featured artists.

The takeaway

Dani Kawaii's "Hoop Dreams" installation at the 2026 NBA All-Star Art Garden offers a unique and empowering perspective on the feminine experience of basketball, challenging traditional narratives and advocating for greater representation of women in sports through her thoughtful and playful ceramic creations.