March 1 - July 27, 2025
From the McNay:
“Sport and Spectator” is organized for the McNay Art Museum by René Paul Barilleaux, head of curatorial affairs, and Lauren Thompson, curator of exhibitions.
Highlighting the unique intersection of contemporary art and sports, “Sport and Spectator” features works by artists Brandon J. Donahue-Shipp, Jeffrey Gibson, Raul Rene Gonzalez, Sophie Inard, Brian Jungen, Justin Korver, Esmaa Mohamoud, Betsy Odom, Hank Willis Thomas and Tyrrell Winston. Artworks transform everyday sports equipment into the extraordinary while inviting viewers to consider athletics’ role in shaping society.
Deflated basketballs and footballs become sculptural floral arrangements in works by Donahue-Shipp, symbolizing the unfulfilled dreams of Black and Brown boys who dreamed of careers in professional sports. Commenting on the relationship between marginalized communities and the American legal system, “Coach’s Playbook” is a screenprint that juxtaposes a basketball diagram with the floorplans of a courtroom.
A commissioned mural by Gonzalez, a San Antonio-based artist, reflects on systemic inequalities in sports through the narrative of the Negro Leagues — a parallel league created because Black athletes were excluded from Major League Baseball due to segregation.
Mohamoud addresses gender in sports through her sports-themed ballgowns created from jerseys, silk and velvet. Her “One of the Boys” series challenges the propensity for male athletes to be hyper-masculine while women remain underrepresented in sports.
Inard uses soft yarn and intricate patterns such as the “granny square” to blanket golf clubs, baseball bats, motorcycle helmets, boxing gloves, skateboards and other equipment. Her creations bring together the fast-paced, harsh sports world with the slower, delicate, calculated practice of crochet, communicating the idea that opposites can coexist.
Everlast punching bags are adorned with glass beads to pay homage to traditional Native American craft traditions through Gibson’s artistic practice. His works offer social and political commentary, and many include references to artists, musicians or ideas through titles and words that appear on the works. “Sharecropper” honors his grandparents, who persevered through poverty.
“Sport and Spectator” will offer interactive experiences in the gallery, including Golden Tee Golf and NBA Jam arcade cabinet games, inviting visitors to “get in the zone” and enjoy a moment of playfulness. The exhibition will also mark the debut of the McNay’s reimagined peacock mascot, who will make appearances at select events. The peacock is a prominent symbol of the Museum’s brand story and a homage to founder Marion Koogler McNay, who incorporated images of peacocks throughout her home and was said to have them roaming the grounds.
Related Programming:
Member Preview
Feb. 27 from 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Get an exclusive look at “Sport and Spectator” before it opens to the public at this all-day event reserved for McNay members. Learn more about memberships at www.mcnayart.org/membership.
Film Screening: “A League of Their Own”
March 16 at 2 p.m.
Catch this popular 1992 American sports comedy drama film about a professional all-female baseball league.
McNay Free Family Day: All Together
April 6 from 1-4 p.m.
Celebrate the exhibition “Sport and Spectator” with your family and enjoy games, performances and activities that promote teamwork and healthy living.
Gallery Talks
April 24 and May 29 from 6-7 p.m.
Make connections and engage with “Sport and Spectator” during a slow look and discussion led by a member of the McNay staff.
Digital Guide
An audio tour with “Sport and Spectator” curators and featured artists will be available on the Bloomberg Connects app.
Visit mcnayart.org/events for details on all events.”
On View: March 1, 2025 | 12–5 pm
6000 North New Braunfels
San Antonio, 78209 TX
(210) 824-5368
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