Maxwell Pearce is a mixed media artist who challenges how we perceive humanity in and out of sports. He has also spent the last seven years traveling the world as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. During a live TV interview in Birmingham, Ala., a couple of news anchors threw fruit at him, including a banana. There is a sordid and racist history behind that action pertaining to Black people, and particularly Black athletes. After speaking out, Pearce received extreme backlash ranging from “shut up and dribble” to death threats. That moment sparked his passion to publicly share his art with the world, emphasizing the multi-dimensionality of athletes and reminding viewers that they are more than just stats, trophies, and memorabilia - they are humans under the jersey.   Pearce notably creates his artwork out of sports equipment, but his signature medium are shoelaces.