From March 1 to July 27 2025, Sophie Inard will showcase her work at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas, as part of the collective exhibition Sport & Spectator.

Sport and Spectator provides a common space for the art lover and sports fanatic. In this banner exhibition, contemporary artists transform sports gear and equipment into works of art. Artworks predominantly include sculptures made from common sports objects, including basketballs, footballs, helmets and jerseys that celebrate and critique sports culture, masculinity and materiality.

Sport and Spectator features works by Brandon J. Donahue-Shipp, Jeffrey Gibson, Raul Rene Gonzalez, Sophie Inard, Brian Jungen, Justin Korver, Betsy Odom, Esmaa Mohamoud, Hank Willis Thomas and Tyrrell Winston. Numerous exhibitions in the past have been dedicated to sports culture but this is the first dedicated to sports equipment and the artistic alchemy that changes the everyday into the extraordinary.

Sport and Spectator is organized for McNay Art Museum by René Paul Barilleaux, Head of Curatorial Affairs; and Lauren Thompson, Curator of Exhibitions.

Major funding is provided by the Joan and Herb Kelleher Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Semmes Foundation, Inc.; and the Louis H. and Mary Patricia Stumberg Foundation. Special thanks to the Exhibition Host Committee chaired by Kelley and Pat Frost, Corinna and J.B. Richter.

Playing with contrasts is at the core of my work as an artist. That’s how my collaboration with Harley Davidson Paris Bastille was born. Harley represents power, speed, and a rebellious spirit, while my crochet technique is often seen as soft, feminine, and traditional. This project is about this unexpected encounter: redefining symbols of strength through an ancient textile technique that is gentle and resolutely unconventional.

8 pieces are available in this exclusive collection: 5 helmets, 2 baseball bats, and 1 skateboard, all wrapped in colorful crochet. Each piece is unique, symbolizing this rare fusion between the motorcycle universe and textile art. They are available exclusively at Harley Davidson Paris Bastille for collectors seeking bold and contemporary art pieces.

The fusion of art and sport is an endless source of inspiration for me. In my work, I explore this relationship by transforming sports equipment—symbols of competition, power, and speed—through the unexpected medium of crochet. This technique, traditionally associated with delicacy and intricacy, contrasts sharply with the intensity of athleticism.

Each piece is a journey through contrasts and paradoxes. Crochet wraps and softens, bringing a new texture and meaning to familiar sports objects such as skateboards, tennis rackets, and balls. This transformation invites reflection on the values we assign to activities and the objects that define them.

By altering the appearance of these objects, I also redefine their essence. They become more than just tools of the game; they are symbols of what sport and art can offer when they are not viewed as opposites but as complementary forces celebrating the human spirit.

As autumn sets in, the spotlight turns to the Paris Masters, where the intensity of the game is heightened by the cooler air and the electric atmosphere. This event, known for its high stakes and dramatic finales, offers a new stage for my exploration of tennis as art.

The tennis racket, an emblem of the sport’s elegance and precision, becomes a canvas in my hands. By enveloping it in crochet, I juxtapose the swift, sharp movements of the game with the meticulous, gentle process of crafting by hand. This contrast is more than aesthetic; it serves as a metaphor for the delicate balance between power and finesse, aggression and control—qualities that resonate both on and off the court.

On an afternoon, I found myself amidst the vigor and vitality of the Stade Français rugby team, not as a spectator, but as an artist with a mission.

The Stade Français players, known for their ferocity on the field, revealed a different side in front of the camera. Each photograph aimed to capture not just the physical prowess of these athletes but the spirit of unity and shared dedication that propels them. The juxtaposition of rugged athletes with the delicate intricacies of crochet highlighted the project's core message: strength and vulnerability coexist, and embracing them both can create deeper, more meaningful connections.

This project was a testament to the power of crochet as a pretext, a means to create social links, and a reminder that in the tapestry of life, we are all connected.

Recently, I took on a special commission: creating a basketball hoop for a dedicated fan of the Ohio State University team. Using my signature crochet technique, I wrapped the hoop in the team’s colors, incorporating motifs that celebrate the spirit and passion of Ohio State.

This project was more than just a decorative piece; it became a symbol of loyalty and the shared joy of the game. It’s a reminder that personalized art can turn an object into a meaningful tribute. Explore how we can create your own unique piece by visiting my website.

At the Open de Bourg de Péage, I had the opportunity to capture Lucas Pouille, David Goffin, and Alex de Minaur in a new light, each holding a crocheted tennis racquet. These athletes, known for their intensity on the court, posed with a focused expression, merging the power of their sport with the delicate intricacy of crochet.

Through this collaboration, I aim to show how art can reinterpret sports symbols and create an unexpected contrast between strength and softness. Each racquet becomes a unique art piece, blending modernity and tradition, power and fragility.

In the small fishing port of Doëlan in Finistère, I captured the stories of fishermen, the deputy port captain, and sea rescuers, each holding my piece: a wooden oar wrapped in crochet. I envisioned this artistic project as a testimony to the struggle of small-scale fishing communities against the growing industrialization of the sector.

The oar, passed from hand to hand, symbolizes unity, resistance, and hope. These portraits go beyond aesthetics, revealing the strength of a community whose survival is threatened by destructive fishing practices.

Through this simple yet meaningful act, I wish to pay tribute to these individuals and highlight the importance of protecting these small fishing ports, which are essential to the cultural, economic, and environmental diversity of our coasts.

September 2023 marked a key moment in my artistic journey, as I had the immense honor of presenting a collection at Merci, the renowned Parisian concept store known for its eclectic and forward-thinking approach to retail.

The collection was a celebration of the ordinary transformed into the extraordinary. Drawing on items that carry stories and histories—whisky flasks, apothecary jars, and laundry detergent cans—I reimagined these everyday objects as vessels of beauty and utility.

Creating for Merci challenged me to push the boundaries of my work while maintaining the essence of my artistic vision. The pieces for this exhibition are functional art that invites interaction and contemplation.

The collaboration with Merci was not only an opportunity to showcase my work to a broader audience but also a moment of reflection on the role of art in everyday life.