‘Get in the Game’: How sports shape the rules of contemporary art, design and culture

Sports is more than just a pastime or profession; it’s a cultural phenomenon that transcends borders, unites communities and sparks debate. They evoke a whirlwind of emotions, from the heights of joy and heartbreak to anger and pride, weaving themselves into the fabric of daily life. Simultaneously, the world of sports has its share of complexities and controversy, particularly around issues of identity, equity and the intersection of politics, provoking discourse and contention. Exploring this intersection, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) presents Get in the Game: Sports, Art, Culture.

Running from October 19, 2024 – February 18, 2025, the immersive exhibition in San Francisco takes over the museum’s seventh floor, showcasing more than 200 artworks and design objects. Co-curated by Jennifer Dunlop Fletcher, SFMOMA’s Helen Hilton Raiser Curator of Architecture and Design alongside Katy Siegel, SFMOMA’s research director, Special Program initiatives and Seph Rodney, independent curator and writer; Get in the Game alongside six additional exhibitions provide broader insights into how sports inspire creative expression while also reflecting on the social and cultural dimensions of athleticism.

“This exhibition explores the confluence of culture and sports and the many ways in which they influence each other,” says Christopher Bedford, SFMOMA’s Helen and Charles Schwab Director. “It creates space for dynamic conversations about identity, physicality, passion, ambition, resilience and so much more. We welcome the public to experience this opportunity to look anew at the inspiring ways that sports, art and design and culture intersect.”

The exhibition features painting, sculpture art, photography, video and interactive installations to explore the emotional highs and lows of sports. Through works depicting pickup basketball games, minor league baseball teams, neighbourhood swimming clubs and the unity among surfers, viewers can experience a strong sense of community that sports often create.

Highlights of the exhibition include works by artist-athletes such as Rosalyn Drexler, Reggie Burrows Hodges and Lucy McRae, who draw from their involvement in activities like wrestling, volleyball and track. Other contributors, including Emma Amos, Hank Willis Thomas and Catherine Opie, use sports as a lens to explore broader societal issues such as race, gender and identity. One of the standout installations is Italian visual artist Maurizio Cattelan’s Stadium (1991), a massive foosball table designed for 22 players that transforms a casual game into a theatrical event. Similarly, Mexican artist Gabriel Orozco’s Ping Pond Table (1998) reinvents ping-pong with a pool replacing the traditional net, blurring the line between play and art.

In addition to fine art, the design showcase emphasises innovations in sports gear, gaming and apparel. Among the notable items on display are American athlete Michael Johnson’s iconic gold running shoes, Nike’s original Air Jordans and the Cheetah Xceed prosthetic running leg designed by biomedical engineer Van Phillips. These objects not only represent feats of engineering but also speak to the evolving definitions of athleticism and accessibility. For example, the inclusion of adaptive sports gear underscores the exhibition’s commitment to promoting and advocating for diverse perspectives. Fashion also plays a central role, with pieces like a 2022 ensemble from American designer Virgil Abloh’s final Louis Vuitton collection demonstrating the impact of sports on high fashion. This blend of form and function is a profound reminder of how intricately athletics shape design across industries.

The exhibition doesn’t shy away from the contentious aspects of sports, including their role in advancing conversations about social change. Artworks responding to athletes like Muhammad Ali, Colin Kaepernick and Venus Williams illustrate the intersections of sports with activism and identity. These figures are celebrated not just for their athletic achievements but also for their role in shaping societal conversations and perspectives around race, gender and justice. Photographs and video installations further contextualise these themes, providing a historical backdrop for the artworks on display. From the glory of championship victories to the arduous struggles for equity in sports, these narratives deepen the audience’s understanding of the complex facets of the subject.

To fully immerse visitors in the energy of sports, the exhibition’s design led by Swiss-born American designer Yves Béhar’s studio, FuseProject evokes the atmosphere of a stadium. Bold, dynamic layouts encourage viewers to chart their paths through the five thematic sections:Winning and Losing, Fan’s Life, Breaking Records, Breaking and Rules, Field of Play and Mind and Body. By integrating archival footage with contemporary works, the exhibition invites visitors to see sports as a microcosm of larger societal dynamics. Themes of competition, community and resilience resonate throughout, making the experience visually striking and thought-provoking.

Expanding on the theme, the museum’s second floor offers three focused single-gallery exhibitions. Unity Through Skateboarding (August 17, 2024 – May 05, 2025) draws attention to the stories of LGBTQ+, BIPOC and women skateboarders, curated by artists and founders Jeffrey Cheung and Gabriel Ramirez of the Oakland-based queer collective. When the World Is Watching and Count Me In (August 17, 2024 – April 27, 2025) explore the social impact of global competitions like the Olympics and Gay Games, alongside stories of diverse athletes breaking barriers. The Bay Area Walls series also features new murals by local artists.

Complementing the exhibition is a book inspired by graphic novels, featuring 45 illustrations by artist and surfer AJ Dungo that revisits iconic moments in sports history and activism. It includes contributions from athletes, scholars and artists, such as Megan Rapinoe, who reflects on the parallels between athletes and artists. Dialogues between figures like swimmer Diana Nyad and boxer Patricio Manuel and essays by writers including Sara Hendren and Bruce Schoenfeld explore a range of topics, from adaptive sports to the role of data in athletic performance. Together, these writings expand on the exhibition’s themes offering fresh perspectives on race, mental health and design’s evolving role in sports culture.

As Get in the Game demonstrates, sports are more than just physical contests; they serve as a mirror reflecting society’s triumphs and struggles. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or someone who has never set foot on a field, the exhibition compels you to engage with the universal emotions and narratives that make sports such a vital part of our collective human experience.