The National Art Museum of Sport (NAMOS) recently announced the opening date of its upcoming exhibit, "Speed and Motion: Racing to the Finish Line," and opened ticket sales for the opening-night event on May 23.

The exhibit features more than 30 paintings, sculptures, photographs, and installations from many sport artists in Indiana and worldwide. Representing a range of artistic media, "Speed and Motion: Racing to the Finish Line" captures the heart-pounding drama of racing, including auto, motorcycle, kayaking, bicycling, running, swimming, triathlons, horse racing, and more. Each exhibit piece has been selected for its bold translation of speed and motion within the portrayed sport.

Highlighting the exhibit is one of the largest collections of Mina Papatheodorou-Valyraki's work ever to be shown in the United States. Hailing from Greece, Papatheodorou-Valyraki has exhibited her artwork depicting Formula One racing in museums around the world, including the National Gallery in Athens; the Olympic Museum of Lausanne; the UN Building in New York; the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.; the "Lamborghini Automobili" Museum in Sant' Agata Bolognese in Italy; the UNESCO collection in Paris; and the Museum of Barcelona. This is Papatheodorou-Valyraki's first exhibit at NAMOS.

Additional highlights of the exhibit include the unveiling of numerous never-seen-before works by American artists Thomas Allen Pauly, Sayaka Ganz, and Clint Thayer.

Thomas Allen Pauly, a regular exhibitor at the Kentucky Derby and award-winning equine artist, will unveil a three-panel triptych entitled "Gates Open, They're Racing."

"Unveiling my triptych, 'Gates Open, They're Racing,' for the first time anywhere, at the National Art Museum of Sport, is incredibly exciting," Pauly said. "Being one of seven artists selected for this exceptional exhibit is an honor and I am equally as pleased that 'Gates Open' will be unveiled during May - prime racing season - at this fine museum."

Also unveiled for the first time will be the installation "Midnight" by Indiana-based artist, Sayaka Ganz, whose work is collected and displayed internationally from London and Tokyo to New York and San Francisco. Ganz is known for her style of work using reclaimed materials, including metals and plastics. Ganz was born in Yokohama, Japan, and has also lived in Brazil and Hong Kong. She currently teaches design and drawing at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

Also featured will be photographs by Clint Thayer, a professional sports photographer from Wisconsin. Thayer's large-scale photographic compositions capture the gritty physicality of months-long trainings, grueling 15-hour Ironman triathlons, and six-mile ultraswim events across freshwater lakes.

Additional works in "Speed and Motion: Racing to the Finish Line" include several photographs by Chicago artist Scott Fincher, highlighting kayaking on Lake Chicago; and photographs by Chris Bucher of athletes running, swimming, and biking. Local artist Walter Knabe rounds out the exhibit with a triptych of racing greats Dario Franchitti, Danica Patrick, and Helio Castroneves.

"We're honored to host 'Speed and Motion: Racing to the Finish Line' at NAMOS with these seven exceptional artists," said Patrick Parrella, National Art Museum of Sport board chair. "This exhibit truly captures the essence of our mission statement - with new works being unveiled and the global art community coming together to celebrate racing of all kinds - while giving the Indianapolis community access to this exhibit. We look forward to celebrating these fine works with sports fans joining us from around the world, both at the opening-night celebration and in the months ahead."

NAMOS will kick off the "Speed and Motion: Racing to the Finish Line" exhibit by hosting an opening-night cocktail reception with all of the artists in attendance 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 23 at the National Art Museum of Sport, 850 W. Michigan St. Tickets are $25 each and include admission to the exhibit and opening-night reception, light hors d'oeuvres, and two complimentary beverages of choice, followed by a cash bar. Tickets may be purchased for the event online at www.NAMOS.iupui.edu/events.