For the fourth year in a row, we returned to The High Line to hand paint a monumental public artwork, this time Backbreaker Double by Derek Fordjour, commissioned by High Line Art.

Stretching across a wall adjacent to the High Line at 22nd Street, the mural depicts two Black marching band drum majors performing the iconic drum major backbend, an athletic and ceremonial salute rooted in the traditions of historically Black colleges and universities. The figures command the wall with confidence and precision, embodying pride, ritual, and showmanship. At the same time, their contorted forms sit on the edge of physical possibility, revealing the tension between spectacle, expectation, and the unseen labor behind performance.

Known for work that examines power, visibility, and performance, Fordjour often draws from African American cultural traditions, pageantry, and history. His paintings and installations layer vivid color, pattern, and symbolism to explore how bodies are celebrated, scrutinized, and pushed under public gaze. Backbreaker Double continues this exploration, using repetition and scale to amplify both the beauty and the strain embedded in moments of public display.

Translating that complexity to an exterior wall presented a unique challenge. Fordjour’s studio practice relies heavily on layered materials, texture, and rhythm, elements that don’t easily map onto a single painted surface. Working closely with the artist and his studio, Fordjour Studio, we developed strategies to recreate that sense of depth and movement through paint alone, carefully studying how his layers interact and how the circular forms establish tempo across the composition.

Throughout the process, we collaborated hand-in-hand with High Line Art and Derek Fordjour Studio aligning on color systems, paint builds, and sequencing to ensure the final work preserved the energy, texture, and visual cadence of the original concept. Every approach, from material choices to execution methods, was reviewed and approved together, allowing the mural to stay true to Fordjour’s vision while meeting the demands of scale, durability, and public exposure.

Fordjour’s vibrant palette and mirrored figures radiate unity and joy, while the mural’s scale invites viewers to slow down and sit with the complexity of what they are witnessing. Painted entirely by hand by our team over the course of a one-week installation, the work came to life in full view of the park, allowing visitors to experience the artwork as a process rather than just a finished moment.

Projects like this are why we love working on The High Line year after year. The platform’s deep support for artists and commitment to ambitious public work are values we genuinely believe in. As artists ourselves, we’re proud to support fellow creatives and help translate powerful visions into enduring public experiences.