Dugout illustration © SEPS licensed by Curtis Licensing
Join us for a lively conversation with LJ Rader, the creator of @artbutmakeitsports, and sports photographer Kevin Sabitus, as they tackle the connections between sports photography and artworks in the museum’s collection.
Drawing on pivotal moments from Chicago sports history, this conversation will tip off new ways of seeing, making surprise passes between art and athletics through themes of movement, drama, rivalry, triumph, and loss. Together, Rader and Sabitus will level the playing field between the world of sports and the museum gallery, revealing how competition, endurance, and spectacle are already at play across many works on view.
This program was initially scheduled to be an in-gallery tour, but due to anticipated interest, it has been moved to Fullerton Hall. Please note that registration is now required.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
LJ Rader runs the social media account ArtButMakeItSports. He’s a former Emmy Award–winning Olympics producer and currently works full-time in the sports data industry. He lives in New York City with his wife, young son, and dog, and enjoys going to sporting events and museums in his free time.
Kevin Sabitus is a freelance sports and commercial photographer who is relocating to Chicago this May. He has been on the NFL Photos team since 2021 and WWE Photos team since 2025. His work has received recognition at the World Sports Photography Awards, earning first place in the American football category in 2023, 2024, and 2025. While he loves traveling the country to shoot football, Kevin is a lifelong soccer player and enjoys playing pick-up in the park and walking his dogs with his fiancée.
Emily Fry is the executive director of Interpretation. Inspired by visitors’ questions and ideas, she is passionate about creating bridges to art for all audiences and works closely with colleagues across the museum to foster meaningful connections between visitors and works of art. On the sports side of things, she played volleyball and coached her daughter’s T-ball team. She also enjoys exploring the ways popular culture resonates with art and likes to watch sporting events through that lens.
If you have any questions about programming, please reach out to [email protected].
Closed captioning will be available for this program. For questions related to accessibility accommodations, please email [email protected].
