Andy Fackrell’s creative brilliance has escaped the boundaries of creating campaigns at 180 Amsterdam and Wieden + Kennedy Portland. He has reinvented himself as an artist. And his first work, for sports brand, On suggests that new-career success is very likely.
Fackrell has painted a new interactive portrait that captures the Queen of Clay, Iga Świątek, in her record-breaking series of wins – specifically, her recent domination at the French Open becoming the youngest woman to win four French Open titles in the Open era. The work includes a novel interactive element that allows Świątek to customise her portrait each time she wins a new trophy and turning a traditional painting into an interactive record of all her titles at the clay court tournament.
It’s also an interesting move for On. Best known for running wear, the brand’s recent unexpected move into tennis has really paid off, sponsoring Świątek as well as Ben Shelton and João Fonseca. The decision to commission a painting sits interestingly alongside its disruptor position as an upstart among sports brands.
The dynamic portrait depicts Świątek on her beloved Roland Garros court. The portrait nods to early-20th-century Expressionism with the shadow of a 1910 Bleriot monoplane plane framing Świątek, a reference to French aviation pioneer and fighter ace. Roland Garros, after whom the tennis tournament is named.
It also comes with a DIY toolkit, a Template pour Victoire (Victory Template) stencil – a hand-cut stamp in the shape of a trophy and a tube of silver paint. The idea was to inspire Świątek to another victory at the 2024 French Open, a mission she ultimately accomplished with ease, and to facilitate the tennis ace to add trophy stamps herself to her already record-breaking tally.
Fackrell commented, “On has always embraced my personal point of view, whether in film or, recently, with art. Their commissions have always led to unique ways to express themselves as a brand. I’m delighted that I could merge my new pivot to painting with her success, to pull off a ‘tactical’ work of art, if you like.”
Fackrell, previously executive creative director at 180 Amsterdam, in its heyday, and creative at Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, has made some of the most famlous and pivotal sports ads for Nike and adidas – including Tag, Shaderunner, Wake-up Call, +10, Road To Lisbon and Kicking It. He has also written and produced several award-winning short documentaries for On, including Superfrau and Untethered. The portrait is his first art commission from the sports brand.
Tailpiece: Following the Swiatek painting, Fackrell’s self-portrait was accepted in the 2024 Archibald Salon des Refusés exhibition at the S.H. Ervin Gallery in Sydney, running until August.
