Sweat and Sacrifice will present artworks, artifacts, memorabilia, media-based ephemera, and sports experiences as a way to celebrate teamwork, fanatic culture, personal well-being, and the integration of creative media into sports culture. The exhibition frames sport as ritual and inheritance—where sweat builds legacy, sacrifice builds memory, and fandom becomes a creative force of its own.

Held at Emerald City (213 Smithfield Street, Downtown Pittsburgh, PA 15222), the exhibition opening reception will happen on Saturday, March 7th at 1P. BOOM Concepts will host a special Sweat and Sacrifice Pop-Up Thursday, April 23rd through Saturday, April 25th featuring Don’t Play Corp and Senseless along with a video game tournament, paper football, and more!

Sweat and Sacrifice is inspired by the determination and creativity of the athlete. The exhibition is shaped by WPIAL athletics, Fifth Avenue High School championship trophies, Kennard 

Field, and the deep-rooted fandom that surrounds sport everywhere—whether in a small town or a major metropolis. The curatorial team draws inspiration from trailblazers across culture and athletics—individuals who sacrificed in different ways to shape the games and the culture around them. Figures such as Kordell Stewart, Bo Jackson, Gary Payton, Tracy McGrady, Connie Hawkins, Curtis Martin, Barry Bonds, Deion Sanders, and Frank Thomas embody that spirit. Rivalries and eras of dominance also shape the exhibition—consider the X GAMES, the home run race between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire, or the swagger and supremacy of Miami Hurricanes football (2001–2003). Creativity remains central throughout, echoing the cult classic The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh.

This project is supported in part by the Greenwood Plan, the City of Pittsburgh’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Arts Programming initiative, and developed in collaboration with Shiftworks Community + Public Arts, and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.  

PROGRAMS

Sweat and Sacrifice Artists Toast

3.7.26

1P-4P

Join us on March 7, 2026, from 1P-4P for the Opening Reception & Artists Toast. Celebrate the launch of the exhibition with the featured artists, connect with the community, and raise a glass in honor of the sports themed artifacts and artworks on view. 

Sweat and Sacrifice Pop Up Activations

4.23.26 – 4.25.26 

12P-4P

Sweat and Sacrifice Exhibition Closing

5.1.26

6P-8P

BOOM Concepts will present a three-day sports activation transforming the gallery at Emerald City into an immersive sports and culture experience. During regular gallery hours, guests can explore exhibitions while enjoying music, premium vintage and streetwear vending from Don’t Play Corp and Senseless, throwback sports gaming stations, paper football sports-themed crafts for all ages, live screenprinting, and interactive indoor lawn games that bring the energy of tailgating inside. The Sweat and Sacrifice pop up creates a dynamic opportunity for community members, sports fans, athletes, weekend warriors, families, and creatives to gather, celebrate, and connect through art, competition, and play.