GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – A truly one-of-a-kind and special wooden art installation for the player walkway at the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay will showcase unique art from a Wisconsinite.
The NFL called upon Milwaukee-based eco-sustainable wood artist Ike Wynter to handcraft the Draft’s player walkway, the path each prospect will take before hearing their name called on stage.
The installation will feature handcrafted wooden interpretations of all 32 NFL teams, with each piece made entirely from reclaimed wood sourced from discarded furniture collected from across Wisconsin.
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The art pieces will serve as a visual and symbolic welcome to the league’s newest stars. The piece, which has no added paint or stain, relies solely on the natural textures and tones of the wood chosen by Wynter.
The Milwaukee-based artist reportedly spent over 500 hours on the installation, using more than 50 pieces of donated furniture for its ‘striking’ mosaics.
The piece aims to showcase Wisconsin’s strong ties to the lumber and farming industries.
“To have this work be part of such a major moment for these players, and for it to represent the heart of Wisconsin, is an incredible honor,” said Ike Wynter. “Each piece of wood is from this community and has its own story, and I wanted to honor that by creating something meaningful without altering its natural beauty.”
Wynter has previously created pieces for the Milwaukee Brewers and Mike Tyson.
“Ike’s installation is a true reflection of Wisconsin,” said Marissa Solis, NFL senior vice president of global brand and consumer marketing. “We want to celebrate the Draft in Green Bay by spotlighting the people and spirit that define this community. Ike’s work does exactly that — turning reclaimed materials into something beautiful and deeply meaningful for this moment.”
The NFL Draft will take place in Green Bay from Thursday, April 24, to Saturday, April 26.
