From Digital Footprints to Animated Art: The Rise of Strava Art

What began as a simple fitness tracking app has evolved into a canvas for digital artists. Strava, a platform that allows users to map their runs and rides, has inspired a unique art form: Strava art.

At its core, Strava art involves meticulously planning routes to create images on a map. Using the app’s location-tracking features, artists trace out shapes, forming everything from delicate flowers to intricate animals. But one artist, Ontario-based accountant Corey McCabe, took the concept a step further, introducing motion into the mix.

McCabe’s animated "dancing man," which recently went viral on social media, is a testament to the ingenuity of this burgeoning art form. "You need to have a lot of frames per second in order to give it motion,” McCabe, 32, explained.

His creation, a product of countless hours and over 120 runs, totaling roughly 9.5 kilometers each, reveals the scope of his dedication.

"If I have a long-term vision, I’m willing to work for a very long time. Each piece of art is a frame, and if you combine them, you can turn frames into motion,” McCabe said.

McCabe’s passion for Strava art aligns with his love for filmmaking. Inspired by previous Strava artists, he saw an opportunity to innovate within the medium.

"The inspiration for that broadly comes from Strava art … I have a lot of respect for the stuff that’s come before me,” he shared, “As far as I know, it’s an original idea. I’m pioneering Strava animation.”

Using PowerPoint to map out his routes and adding a dash of visual sleight of hand, McCabe strung together individual Strava maps to create his animated masterpiece. He perceptively navigated obstacles by pausing the app, resulting in diagonal lines across his map, even if they couldn’t be physically run that way.

"When there are buildings in the way of a line he needs to draw, ‘I pause the app, then when I get to the desired destination, I resume. When you un-pause, Strava runs a direct line between the two points,’” explained McCabe.
While physically demanding, McCabe said the project was "deeply rewarding."

“It’s creativity coming out of somewhere you wouldn’t expect it. It’s fun. It’s unexpected,” he remarked.

McCabe isn’t alone in his commitment to Strava art. Across the globe, individuals are embracing the challenge, turning their workouts into intricate works of art.

Nicholas Georgiou, a 59-year-old cyclist based in London, has channeled his passion into Strava cycling artistry. "I like to create things, and I just find my bicycle is like my pencil. It feels good to be able to get out and achieve something,” he affirmed.

He’s crafted intricate designs, including a discus thrower for the 2024 Olympics and a teddy bear logo for BBC Children in Need, raising funds for the organization in the process.

Gary Cordery, the curator of a popular Instagram account dedicated to Strava art, believes the form is only gaining momentum.

“It’s just a little hobby, which has grown and grown,” he said. “I was stuck on 200 followers for a year, and then suddenly, it exploded.”

His tale emphasizes the widespread appeal of Strava art, a phenomenon that is blurring the line between fitness and creativity.

The art form’s potential for social commentary, as exemplified by Janine Strong, a New York-based cyclist, further highlights its versatility. “I want to use this art form to say something meaningful,” Strong articulated. Her most recent piece, a duct-taped banana on a map of Brooklyn, invited reflection on social inequality and the art market.

“The route I figured out was a [37-kilometer] bike ride that took me through parts of the borough where people are clearly struggling,” Strong wrote on Instagram. “I can’t help wondering what else US$6.2m could have accomplished in a world where so many are in need."

Strong’s piece epitomizes the power of Strava art: it pushes boundaries, sparks conversations, and transforms mundane routes into meaningful expressions.

The future of Strava art is brimming with possibilities. As artists continue to experiment and innovate, one thing is certain: this unique and evolving art form will continue to captivate imaginations and showcase the creativity that can emerge from the most unexpected of places.