Q&A: The Art of the Swing: Jacob Felländer Reimagines Golf

Miami, FL – April 4, 2025 – When golf meets avant-garde art, something unexpected—and unforgettable—happens.

In a striking collaboration with Cleeks Golf Club on the LIV Tour, artist Jacob Felländer blends his personal history with the sport and his boundary-pushing artistry to create a multisensory experience that redefines both golf and art.

“I actually see a strong relationship between sports and art: Both are forms of play, something we do to escape life’s torments,” Shares Jacob.
A former college golfer turned internationally acclaimed artist, Felländer sees deep parallels between the freedom of play in sports and the creative spirit of the arts. His exhibition at Superblue Miami, featuring photography, painting, projections, AR, fashion, and even taste, is a vivid manifestation of this philosophy—inviting audiences to not just view art, but to travel through it.

For Felländer, the project is more than a fusion of mediums—it’s a statement on accessibility, creativity, and perspective. He hopes the unexpected bridge between art and golf inspires a new generation to explore, to play, and to grow—on the course and beyond the canvas.

“My artistic style is about pushing the boundaries of what defines an image. If a traditional image captures a single frozen moment, my images capture multiple moments, multiple angles, and different materials,” he continues.“You can travel into them, experience them in different ways, they can come out of the frame, you can wear them, smell them — and even taste them.”

As Felländer puts it, both worlds offer an escape, a form of spiritual freedom, and the chance to see life—and ourselves—through a different lens.

WRE: How did the collaboration with Cleeks Golf Club come about? 

Jacob Felländer: An old childhood friend of mine is one of the managers for the Cleeks Golf Club on the LIV Tour. I have seen the whole process of how the LIV Tour was built, but I also played college golf while I was in Florida. During that time, I accidentally stumbled into an art class, and from that day on, I knew I was not meant to be a golf pro, I was supposed to be an artist. That is all I have done since then.

 I am a big fan of collaborations that build unexpected bridges between audiences. It is an opportunity for people to see life and even themselves through a different lens.

Jacob Felländer

WRE: As a former golfer, how has your personal tie to the sport influenced your work on this project?

JF: I actually see a strong relationship between sports and art. Both are forms of play, something we do to escape life’s torments. Play is freedom, it is loose, and it is what I believe the next generation needs more of. We need to raise the creativity level of the next generation, and I think that will happen through play, both in sports and in the arts.

WRE: Your artistic style merges photography, painting, VR, and AR. How did you incorporate these elements into this collaboration?

JF: This exhibition at Superblue incorporated photography, painting, projections, augmented reality, fabrics, fashion, and even a sensory experience with taste. My artistic style is about pushing the boundaries of what defines an image. If a traditional image captures a single frozen moment, my images capture multiple moments, multiple angles, and different materials. You can travel into them, experience them in different ways, they can come out of the frame, you can wear them, smell them, and even taste them.

I actually see a strong relationship between sports and art. Both are forms of play, something we do to escape life’s torments.

Jacob Felländer

WRE: What do you hope audiences take away from these pieces?

JF: I never hope for anything specific to happen. The best-case scenario is that someone, maybe just a few people, will find themselves in a place, mentally or emotionally, where they have never been before. I believe getting to an unknown place is growth, and that is where new ideas are created.

WRE: How do you see the game of golf evolving in 2025 and beyond?

JF: I would love to see golf become more accessible, something that anyone can take part in regardless of where they are from, their background, or their bank account. I think that is what the LIV Tour is doing, bringing golf to the people. That is also something I believe the art world should be doing, and it is what I aim to do with my work. Right now, art has a decimal role in society compared to gaming, music, and movies, so I appreciate that golf and art can be combined to reach a larger audience. If I could change one thing about golf specifically, I would love to see a return to its spiritual side. Golf is a deeply spiritual game. It does not always have to be about long drives and big money.

WRE: Golf is often seen as a traditional sport. Do you think artistic collaborations like this can help expand the game and draw new fans?

JF: I am a big fan of collaborations that build unexpected bridges between audiences. It is an opportunity for people to see life and even themselves through a different lens. The LIV Tour is already a nontraditional way of approaching golf, and now the art world is seeing the game from a fresh perspective as well.

WRE: What are some of your favorite artists? Any you hope to see collaborate with Cleeks in the future?

JF: I love art in general, and many of my favorite artists are Renaissance painters. But I am also deeply connected to music. It is a huge influence on my paintings and my creative process. Art and music are my foundation. The collaboration with Cleeks has been an incredible journey, and I am proud and honored to be a part of it. I would absolutely love to collaborate with them again.