Home > Exhibitions > The ESPY Collection

The ESPY Collection

May 31 - August 31, 2008

Rick Champman, Muhammad Ali, Berrien Springs, Michigan, 2002. Gelatin silver print, 14 x 14 in. Courtesy the artist and The ESPY Collection, New York.
In conjunction with the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art will present two complimentary sports-related exhibitions. The first—focusing on sports in America from the late 19th century to the 1980s—is All-Stars: American Sporting Prints from the Collection of Reba and Dave Williams.

The second exhibition features The ESPY Collection, which was begun in 2002 when photographer Rick Chapman was asked by ESPN to create a series of portraits of the recipients of the ESPY Awards. What resulted is a riveting collection of 40 photographs of some of the most fascinating US sports figures of our time.

Ranging from traditional portraiture to innovative and enlightening works that capture the sitter's personality, this limited-edition series of black-and-white photographs will allow viewers to see many of their favorite sports heroes in a completely new light. From Muhammad Ali to John Elway and Jack Nicklaus, a broad range of sports figures will be included in this exhibition. 

This exhibition is made possible in part by 1600 ESPN Sports Radio, The Skogman Companies, The Momentum Fund of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, and Members of the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.