The Commitment to Excellence in Art and Sport art competition and exhibit support the Museum’s two-pronged mission to encourage sports artists in their efforts to create sport art and to collect, preserve and share the best examples of sports art it can acquire. The National Art Museum of Sport has one of the nation’s largest collections of art depicting sport. Over forty sports are represented in the over 900 paintings, photographs, sculptures and mixed media works in the collection.

Over $8,000  in Prizes Awarded & 50 Award Winning Works Unveiled

Hundreds of sculputres, paintings and photographs from around the world were entered ino our 2nd Commitment to Excellence in Art and Sport: A Fine Art Competition this fall. Jurors selected prize-winning works, and we could not be more pleased with the results!

The Exhibit kicked off with a smashing launch party and awards ceremony. Dozens of artists, Board members and local supporters were present for the reception.

Competition Chair, Christine Glidden, praised the submissions, "This year's 2nd International Competition portrayed varied subjects like bocce ball, rodeo & bullfighting; extreme sports like roller derby, snowboarding  and half pipe. It goes to show that this subject is endless and evergreen. I so appreciate how all the artists of any medium have a love of how sport IS art."

1st International Competition Exhibit Was a Success

Scott Darlington, "Market Drop 5 Spot"	NAMOS Award Ceremony	Edward Wyth, "Perspective I"

A sculpture awarded top prize in a Beijing Olympics competition, a compelling photo of a young boxer facing a championship bout and a memento-filled binder carved from one piece of wood are among the 50 award-winning works of sport art currently on exhibit at the National Art Museum of Sport on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

The art was selected in a global competition for sports artists conducted by the Museum and selected by a jury from entries submitted from 26 states and 6 countries representing 57 sports. The Commitment to Excellence in Art and Sport exhibit will run until April 20, 2011.

The boxing photo, a gold-medal winner, is by Indianapolis photographer Chris Bucher. The sculpture, a 30-inch bronze of an athlete holding an Olympic ring, is by Edward Eyth of Pacific Grove, Calif., and the skateboard of glass by Scott Darlington of Bowling Green, Ohio.

A audience’s view of a “Club Fight” by Garin Baker, New Windson, N.Y., was judged winner of the $2,500 Germain G. Glidden “Best of Show” prize given by Christine D. Glidden, Redding, Conn., chairman of the competition, in honor of her late father, NAMOS founder.

Over a 100 people, art and sport organizations and the mayor came to the reception celebrating this exhibit on January 20, 2011. Artists and patrons mingled while appreciating the artwork in the galleries. Later, Chairman of the Board, Patrick Perrella, and former Chair of the Board, Shaun Clifford, thanked everyone who made the exhibit and reception possible and awarded the medals to the artists.

Thank you to everyone who made this exhibit a success

2nd Annual International Commitment to Excellence in Art and Sport: A Fine Art Competition Exhibit.

On Thursday, October 27, 2011 the National Art Museum of Sport hosted a Reception featuring 59 of the best artworks depicting sport art.

Awards were presented for top placing artwork by NAMOS and the NCAA. The Germain G. Glidden Best in Show Award will be presented to Mary Carol Kenney for Mission City Brawlin Betties.  The  NCAA  Honoring  College  Athletics  and  Academic  Excellence  award  in  sculpture will be awarded to Jamie Henderson for Student Athlete.  

Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were  awarded in the three categories of Painting/2D, Sculpture/3D, and Photography.

In Painting/2D: Jules Arthur received a Gold medal for Ali & Young Cassius Clay; Opie Otterstad received a Silver medal for The Cage- The Other Side; and William Williams received a Bronze medal for Honus.

In Sculpture/3D: Gail Folwell received a Gold medal for Pas de Deux; Edward Eyth received a Silver medal for Balance; and Richard Stravitz received a Bronze medal for Dash to the Finish Line.

In Photography: Chris Bucher received a Gold medal for Tamika Catchings #449; Jason Fogue received a Silver medal for Caleb, 11, 70lbs; and Clyde Heppner received a Bronze medal for No Regrets.

Susan Durkee received the Founders Award for Jim Thorpe and Edward Eyth  received the Rhoda Sherbell Sculpture Award for Balance. 

This exhibit will run until February 29, 2012.

This exhibit is sponsored, in part, by the NCAA.