All photos courtesy of OBam Productions
Jacob Trouba’s life outside hockey has transformed into a literal work of art.
Before training camp kicks off ahead of the 2024-25 NHL season, the New York Rangers captain will have enjoyed one of the most rewarding summers of his life.
On Aug. 1, the 30-year-old debuted his first public art exhibition, “Landing My Mark,” at Harper’s Gallery in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighbourhood.
Running until Aug. 23, some of Trouba’s art on display will be for sale. He will also donate one of his works to November’s Hockey Fights Cancer auction.
The Michigan-born blueliner, along with his mother, Kristy, teamed up earlier this year for AstraZeneca’s “Get Body Checked Against Cancer” campaign to help encourage the hockey community to get checked for cancer.
“I’m both excited and nervous,” Trouba told NHLPA.com ahead of his gallery’s opening. “Excited, in the fact that it has been in the plans for a while, but nervous in the sense that people are actually going to see this art. But overall, I’m excited.”
Harper Levine, founder and operator of Harper’s Galley, felt the anticipation leading up to the debut.
“The opening went so well,” said Levine. “There were a lot of people who came and reacted super-positively to Jacob’s art.
“The show looked great, and Jacob was gracious with everyone. There were fans, family, friends and others – you could see how happy he was with everything.
“We sold a few items, which is always nice to see. The work was very well received. From the gallery standpoint, it could not have gone any better. Overall, just a total hit.”
As it was for Trouba.
“Art is something I enjoy doing and sharing it with whoever might be interested in it.
“It was something I never could have imagined happening. A couple of years ago, I kind of got into the art world and really enjoyed it. It’s a hobby, something I enjoy doing, and something I want to do more of in my free time. It’s very fulfilling for me.”
Three years ago, friend and New York-based artist Michael Geschwer invited the defenceman to his studio to paint.
The experience would be a life-altering one for Trouba, inspiring him to study other artists, including French artist Yves Klein.
“He caught my attention – not only the physicality of some of his work, but also that the human form could become a proxy for the brush,” Trouba notes on his official art website.
That discovery led to a unique approach to art for Trouba, which sees him bodycheck canvases while covered in paint to create certain works.
“I had the idea of, ‘what if I paint myself in my gear and check the canvas? What kind of mark would that make?’
“I didn’t have a clue if it would work or not. When I did it the first time, I stepped back and thought, ‘this is pretty cool. I think I have something here.’”
In addition to hand painting canvas, Trouba also has found ways to utilizes sticks, skates and hockey nets into his work.
Last season, Levine’s daughter reached out to him about Trouba’s art, after she heard it mentioned on a Rangers TV broadcast.
A longtime Rangers fan, Levine was immediately impressed by what he saw.
“Before I discovered Jacob was an artist, I was a fan of his as a hockey player.
“When we started to have a dialogue about his artistic practice and to do a show – to get to know him over the past eight months, he has struck me as a sensitive guy, a good person, and someone who is passionate about art.”
Levine’s words of praise didn’t end there.
“He is a very talented artist, which I think is so remarkable considering how demanding his day job is.
“What impresses me the most about his work is the compositional sophistication that he is able to bring to his paintings.
“We have very high standards about what we show, and Jacob has a fluency in the language of art that is very developed. He has real depth and soul in his paintings.
Trouba hopes the public art gallery dispels notions about the perception of athletes as one-dimensional figures.
“I think being able to show it to people breaks that so-called mold of the limitations people might perceive when it comes to athletes. It shows you don’t have to have limitations and that you can do whatever you feel like doing.
“It puts me out there and shows a side of who I am, more than just an angry guy on hockey skates.”
Supporting Hockey Fights Cancer adds to a long line of philanthropic efforts connected to Trouba’s art – from supporting the Epilepsy Foundation through his work to teaming up with Garden of Dreams to help a young student pay for college.
Last year, he founded The Trouba Creative Expressions Arts Program, an initiative that provides adults with epilepsy the chance to paint.
“It’s something I am very happy to do,” said Trouba. “It is important for me to help others in any way I can.”
Trouba will continue to pursue his growing appreciation for all things art during the hockey offseason, time that includes reading books and watching YouTube videos related to his hobby.
Where and what it will lead him to next, he isn’t sure.
But he is excited to find out.
“What I am doing now is my own artistic language – skating, nets, all different marks that come back to hockey – and I guess it all relates back to my day job.”
Levine sees a bright future for Trouba in the art world.
“He has approached this all with a lot of rigor, as we like to say in the art world.
“Jacob is a naturally gifted artist.”
As for the most rewarding part of “Landing My Mark,” Trouba considered his answer for a moment before he responded.
“I guess it would be officially calling myself an artist,” he said with a laugh.
