Lecture to celebrate the opening of new exhibition, “Get in the Game: Sports, Art, Culture”
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BENTONVILLE, Ark. — On September 11, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will host an opening lecture to kick off Get in the Game: Sports, Art, Culture featuring soccer icon Mia Hamm. A pioneer, a champion, and a cultural icon, Mia Hamm forever changed the game, not just for women’s soccer, but for sports worldwide. With two World Cup titles, two Olympic gold medals, and a record-breaking career, Hamm inspired a generation and redefined what was possible on and off the field.
Named ESPN’s greatest female athlete of the past 40 years, Hamm continues to lead as a fierce advocate for equity in sports and health through the Mia Hamm Foundation, supporting young women athletes and families in need of marrow or cord blood transplants. Hamm is also part owner of the MLS’ Los Angeles Football Club and expansion franchise, Angel FC of the NWSL.
The evening opens with an introduction by chief curator Austen Barron Bailly, and president of Bank of America Private Bank, Katy Knox. Following the introduction, moderator Steve Nelson will dive into an insightful conversation with Hamm, discussing her story, legacy, and her enduring call to action.
Crystal Bridges has presented numerous lectures since 2012, inviting visitors to hear from internationally acclaimed leaders who inspire new ways of thinking about art and wellness.
WHAT: Exhibition Opening Lecture: Get in the Game Featuring Mia Hamm
WHEN: Thursday, September 11, 2025 | 6 PM
WHERE: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art | Great Hall | 600 Museum Way
WHO: Mia Hamm, two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, Steve Nelson, co-founder, founding CEO, and former chairman of Carbon, Inc., a digital 3D manufacturing company founded in 2013, Katy Knox, president of Bank of America Private Bank, and Austen Barron Bailly, chief curator of Crystal Bridges and the Momentary.
WHY: Hear from internationally acclaimed leaders who inspire new ways of thinking about art and wellness and celebrate the opening of Crystal Bridges’ newest exhibition, Get in the Game: Sports, Art, Culture.
HOW: Visitors can purchase tickets in advance on the Crystal Bridges website.
MORE: Get in the Game: Sports, Art, Culture is organized by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The exhibition is curated by Jennifer Dunlop Fletcher, Helen Hilton Raiser Curator of Architecture and Design SFMOMA; Seph Rodney, independent curator and writer; and Katy Siegel, Curator-at-Large, Research & Special Program Initiatives, SFMOMA. The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art presentation is curated by Austen Barron Bailly, Chief Curator, and 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, Marshall and Beth Saviers, Jim Smith and Rebecca Hurst | Smith Hurst, PLC, Jim and Susan von Gremp, Tony Waller, Deborah Wright, and Jennifer and Hunter Yuracheck.
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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 world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. A rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house was preserved and relocated to the museum grounds in 2015. Home of the prestigious Don Tyson Prize for the Advancement of American Art and Tyson Scholars of American Art Program, 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.
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