New immersive show explores the intersection of athleticism, creativity, and innovation through more than 150 dynamic works of art
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BENTONVILLE, Ark. — From September 13, 2025, to January 26, 2026, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art presents Get in the Game: Sports, Art, Culture, an exhibition of art and design that explores sports in all their glory, highlighting the ways the brilliance, discipline, power, and sacrifice of athletes have inspired artistic and technological innovation. Organized by San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Get in the Game showcases paintings, sculptures, photographs, sports equipment and apparel, videos, and interactive installations by some of today’s most important artists.
Sports hold a powerful place in our communities and society because athletes are not just performers, but often bold agents of change. Many artists and designers work to express this influence. Through a series of more than 150 thought-provoking pieces, Get in the Game invites visitors to experience moments of joy, connection, and personal resonance, encouraging reflection on well-being, mindful action, physical activity, and mental health awareness. Celebrating the rich creative expression shared by artists and athletes alike, the exhibition ultimately calls on guests to “get in the game” and discover interconnections between sports, art, and contemporary culture.
“We’re bringing Get in the Game to Northwest Arkansas to inspire connections between our community of passionate sports fans and the worlds of art and design,” said Austen Barron Bailly, Chief Curator for Crystal Bridges and the Momentary. “Sports have a unique ability to connect us all, and this exhibition drives us to explore the games we love through the creative perspectives of artists and designers. We encourage everyone to engage with the galleries—to reflect, to celebrate, and to connect through the universal language of sports.”
Northwest Arkansas has long been a haven for sports fans, from cheering on the hometown Razorbacks to rallying behind the nearby Kansas City Chiefs—and now the community can take that enthusiasm to new heights through Get in the Game. Visitors can play a volleyball match on the Atari 2600 or challenge a fellow museum goer to a game of foosball. They can explore a punching bag adorned in glass beads by Jeffrey Gibson, view an urn dedicated to the life and legacy of Kobe Bryant by Roberto Lugo, and even watch a nine-minute video work entitled run by Olympic athlete and artist Savanah Leaf made from 35mm film. Woven throughout are a number of interactive installations, design pieces, and historical footage that together reframe the world of sports as a lens for exploring deeper cultural and political issues.
A dynamic lineup of public programs will bring the exhibition to life. On Thursday, September 11, 2025, the museum will host an opening lecture with Austen Barron Bailly and two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Mia Hamm. An opening celebration will follow on Saturday, September 13, featuring live marching band performances, athlete and mascot meet and greets, artmaking, pennant flag creation, tail-gate style food vendors, and a Razorbacks vs. Ole Miss watch party. The museum will also host a number of events throughout the exhibition run, including a family day, gallery talks, cocktails tours, and free drop-in tours of the show.
Get in the Game is on view at Crystal Bridges from September 13, 2025, through January 26, 2026. Tickets to the exhibition are $15 for adults. Museum members, SNAP participants, Veterans, and youth 18 and under are free. Exhibition tickets can be purchased on the museum’s website. Tickets for the opening lecture will go on sale to Crystal Bridges members first. To learn more about the benefits of becoming a museum member, visit https://crystalbridges.org/membership/.
Get in the Game: Sports, Art, Culture is organized by San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The exhibition is curated for Crystal Bridges by Austen Barron Bailly, Chief Curator, along with Laura Pratt, Manager, Curatorial Affairs.
The exhibition’s National Tour Sponsor is Bank of America. Additional support is provided by The Coca-Cola Company, Shelby and Frederick Gans, Scholastic, Stout Executive, Blakeman’s Fine Jewelry, Willie and Brenda Godwin, Donna and Mack McLarty, Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Sue and Charles Redfield, Jim Smith and Rebecca Hurst | Smith Hurst, PLC, Jim and Susan Von Gremp, Tony Waller, and Deborah Wright.
“Bank of America proudly partners with museums and non-profit cultural institutions that are vital to the health of vibrant, successful communities,” said Heather Jones, President of Bank of America, Arkansas. “Our partnerships include approximately 20 major museum exhibitions each year and supporting a variety of performing arts organizations, as well as programs to help arts nonprofits deliver unique experiences, visual and educational programs.”
For more information on Get in the Game and related programming, please visit the exhibition webpage.
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About Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Since opening in 2011, the museum has welcomed more than 14 million visitors across its spaces, with no cost for admission. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a non-profit charitable organization by arts patron and philanthropist, Alice Walton. The collection spans five centuries of American masterworks from early American to current day and is enhanced by temporary exhibitions. The museum is nestled on 134 acres of Ozark landscape and was designed by the world-renowned Safdie Architects. A rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house was preserved and relocated to the museum grounds in 2015. Crystal Bridges offers public programs including lectures, performances, classes, and teacher development opportunities. Some 478,375 school children have participated in the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program, which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost to the schools. Additional museum amenities include a restaurant, gift store, library, and five miles of art and walking trails. In February 2020, the museum opened the Momentary in Downtown Bentonville (507 SE E Street), conceived as a platform for the art, food, and music of our time. In 2026, Crystal Bridges will complete a 114,000 square foot expansion that will allow the museum to expand access for all. For more information, visit CrystalBridges.org. The museum is located at 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.
Media Contact: media@crystalbridges.org.