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Phoenix Art Museum will become only the second museum in the United States to present Nike: Form Follows Motion, a major exhibition exploring the 50-year evolution of Nike from a small Oregon running company into one of the world’s most influential design brands.
Opening April 14 and running through Sept. 26, 2027, in the museum’s Steele Gallery, the exhibition features artifacts drawn primarily from Nike’s archives, a collection of more than 200,000 objects. Visitors will see experimental prototypes, original design studies, rare pieces and iconic products including the Waffle Trainer, Air Force 1, Air Jordan, Air Max, Flyknit and Vaporfly.
“As one of few art museums in the U.S. to regularly exhibit, collect and preserve fashion as part of our core collecting priorities, Phoenix Art Museum is thrilled to bring Nike: Form Follows Motion to the Valley,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “This is much more than a striking display of sneakers and sportswear; it’s a story about an idea that started on the track and grew to shape everything from street to mainstream style.”
Presented by PNC Bank, the exhibition examines how Nike combined sports research, science, design and culture to influence generations of athletes and consumers.
The exhibition is organized into four sections:
- Track explores Nike’s beginnings in the 1960s, when former runner Phil Knight and coach Bill Bowerman founded the company. The section includes early footwear designs, the story behind Bowerman’s iconic waffle sole and historical material related to the Tennessee State University Tigerbelles track team.
- Air focuses on Nike’s transformation during the 1980s, highlighted by the introduction of visible Air technology in the Air Max. It also examines the company’s expansion into basketball, tennis, soccer and skateboarding, as well as partnerships with athletes including Michael Jordan, Serena Williams and LeBron James.
- Sensation takes visitors inside the Nike Sport Research Lab, showcasing the science behind products such as Nike Free, Vaporfly and Flyknit while exploring advancements in performance, sustainability and materials innovation.
- Relation examines Nike’s impact on fashion, art and popular culture, featuring collaborative footwear designs, music videos, social media content and examples of the sneaker culture that helped transform the brand into a global phenomenon.
“At PNC, we understand the critical role the arts play in the continued success, stability and growth of our community,” said Kyle Steinbuch, regional president and head of Corporate Banking for Arizona. “At its core, the Nike: Form Follows Motion exhibition is about people, creativity and the evolution of ideas.”
The exhibition is accompanied by a 356-page catalog featuring essays from leading scholars and nearly 300 images documenting Nike’s history and design legacy. The publication, along with exclusive exhibition merchandise, will be available in The Museum Store.
Organized by the Vitra Design Museum in Germany, the exhibition is curated by Glenn Adamson and assistant curator Marcella Hanika. The Phoenix presentation is coordinated by Summer Rye and Rebekah Monahan and is supported by PNC Bank, Men’s Art Council, Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix and the museum’s Exhibition Excellence Fund.
