The Perfect Shot: Walter Iooss Jr., and the Art of Sports Photography, will run from November 10, 2025 through January 7, 2026 at the Park City Museum.
From Muhammad Ali to Serena Williams, Walter Iooss Jr. has brilliantly photographed some of the greatest athletes of all time. As an artist, he captures on film carefully crafted moments of anticipation and triumph—universal emotions of athletes and non-athletes alike. The Perfect Shot: Walter Iooss Jr., and the Art of Sports Photography takes visitors through some of the most inspiring moments in sports history and highlights the craft and talent that transformed these moments into art. The exhibition features athletes Michael Jordan, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods, Cathy Marino, and many more. The Perfect Shot is an adaptation of the original retrospective exhibit organized by the Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA) and is drawn from their permanent collection.
“Iooss is a master at framing and discovering dynamic backdrops. . . . Over the course of his career with Sports Illustrated, Iooss brilliantly photographed many of the greatest athletes of all time,” said curator Bryn Schockmel, PhD. “As an artist, Iooss has created carefully composed portraits, captured seemingly candid moments that were actually meticulously crafted, and taken dramatic shots at the center of the action.”
Iooss was born in 1943 and shot his first roll of film in 1959, at a New York Giants game with his father. Only two years later, he began working for Sports Illustrated, landing his first cover in 1963, when he was not yet 20 years old. He went on to become a prolific photographer for the magazine and photographed every Super Bowl from the first in 1967 through 2020, and shot over 300 covers.
This family-friendly exhibit enables viewers, regardless of if they have a background playing or watching sports, to relate to the emotions and drama unveiled in the photographs.
About ExhibitsUSA
This exhibition is toured by ExhibitsUSA, the national touring exhibition program of Mid-America Arts Alliance. ExhibitsUSA sends more than 25 exhibitions on tour to over 100 small- and mid-sized communities every year. These exhibitions create access to an array of arts and humanities experiences, nurture the understanding of diverse cultures and art forms, and expand the depth and breadth of cultural life in local communities, rural and urban. For more about ExhibitsUSA, email MoreArt@maaa.org or visit www.eusa.org.
About Mid-America Arts Alliance
Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) strengthens and supports artists, cultural organizations, and communities throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond. To learn more about M-AAA grants, programs, exhibitions, and fellowships, visit www.maaa.org.
Featured image, top: Walter Iooss Jr., High School Football, Winter Park, Florida, negative, 1987; archival pigment print, 14 7/8 x 22 inches; Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Gift of Eileen and Patrick O’Connor in honor of the Museum’s 75th anniversary, © Walter Iooss Jr.