About the Event

Scottsdale Arts is excited to join forces with the NFLPA’s Professional Athletes Foundation, The Abstract Athlete, and COLE/LAB during Super Bowl week, for a special arts event curated by Cece Cole at the newly renovated Scottsdale Civic Center.

Arts & Athletics will showcase artwork by retired athletes from the NFL, NBA, MLB, and other leagues. More than a dozen large-scale works will be on display in a wonderful outdoor setting, just steps away from Old Town and the ESPN Super Bowl Stage. Several NFLPA members and artists will be in attendance, including Week 10 NFLPA Community MVP Arizona Cardinal Kelvin Beachum Jr. and Phoenix resident and former Atlanta Falcons NFC Champion Jose C. Portilla (Super Bowl XXXIII).

The event is free of charge and open to the public. Please join us as we display the amazing creativity of these athletes. With the ESPN broadcast stage next door, it will be a fantastic way to merge the two art forms.

Arts & Athletics is part of a series of art showcases, The Abstract Athlete tour, leading up to the Professional Athletes Foundation’s private fundraising brunch Smocks & Jocks. In its 18th year, the annual Super Bowl art auction will be held on Saturday, February 11, at Top of the Rock Restaurant in Tempe. The public can register for the virtual art auction component of the event here, including artwork by Arizona Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald Jr.

Another stop of the tour will be De Sarthe Gallery in Scottsdale on Thursday, February 9, from 6–9 p.m., once again courtesy of COLE/LAB.

For more questions on the NFLPA’s foundation event, please contact [email protected]

All events include works by the following athletes, military veterans, and other artists: Makayla Binter (track and field), KJ Brent (NFL), Joe Barry Carroll (NBA), Vernon Davis (NFL), Michael Goodrich (U.S. Army veteran, Purple Heart recipient), Don Hasselbeck (NFL), Katie Houser (pro volleyball), Jaraz Jenkins, Ron Johnson (baseball player, teacher, and Abstract Athlete co-founder), Percy King (NFL), Tony Mandarich (NFL), Elize McKelvey (U.S. Marine Corps veteran), Joe Olney (U.S. Army veteran), Brian Poli-Dixon (NFL), Matthew Rice (NFL), Jay Richardson (NFL), Gabrielle Rivera-Valedon (pro volleyball), Charlie Rugg (MLS), Larry Sanders (NBA), Andrew Storck (U.S. Air Force veteran), Richard Sullivan (pro baseball), Matt Szczur (MLB), Brett Tomko (MLB), Hillary Werth (heptathlete and U.S. Bobsled Team member), and Nigel Williams (NFL). 

Event Partners