“Play Ball! The Art of George Sosnak” Now Open at The Westmoreland
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Claire Ertl
certl@thewestmoreland.org
724.837.1500 x128
GREENSBURG, Pennsylvania (April 27, 2026) – The Westmoreland Museum of American Art is stepping up to the plate with Play Ball! The Art of George Sosnak, on view through Sunday, April 4, 2027. This exhibition celebrates the work of self-taught artist George Sosnak, whose hand-painted baseballs blend America’s favorite pastime with the storytelling traditions of American folk art.
Bringing together more than 60 of Sosnak’s remarkable works from the Collection of Craig Smyth, the David Angelo Collection, and loans from private collectors with generous support from the Chrysler Museum of Art, Play Ball! is both a love letter to the sport of baseball and a joyful reminder of how art can capture the spirit of a game.
“We are delighted to bring this exhibition to our region for the enjoyment of sports lovers and arts lovers, alike,” said Silvia Filippini-Fantoni, PhD, The Richard M. Scaife Director/CEO of The Westmoreland. “Visitors will be captivated by the intricate visual stories that Sosnak depicted on his baseballs, including ones paying tribute to Pirates legends Roberto Clemente and Bill Mazeroski.”
It was a strong passion for baseball that led Pittsburgh native George Sosnak (1924–1992) to a career as a minor league umpire first and then later to a unique hobby as a self-taught artist. Following service abroad in World War II, Sosnak enrolled in umpire school in Florida, eventually settling in Lakeland to work for the Pioneer and Florida State Leagues. Despite this relocation, he frequently depicted his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, on his ornately adorned baseballs.
His artistic practice began in the 1950s when a fan asked him to paint her favorite player on a baseball. That request sparked a 40-year body of work in which Sosnak transformed hundreds of ordinary baseballs into detailed narratives. By meticulously rendering portraits, statistics, logos, and more, his art bridges the worlds of sports memorabilia and American folk art.
Of the nearly 3,000 balls that Sosnak began, he completely approximately 800. The exhibition includes a selection of Sosnak’s unfinished works, providing a unique glimpse at the process involved in his creations.
The Westmoreland will host Sunday Fun Day: Art in Play, a sports-themed community event, on Sunday, August 16 (10am-3pm) inspired in part by the Play Ball! exhibition. The event will feature live peformances, a mascot meet-and-greet, and a community sports memorabilia show-and-tell. Learn more about this and other Museum programming at thewestmoreland.org/events.
Play Ball! The Art of George Sosnak is generously supported by the Hillman Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, Carol & Paul Evanson, and Ellen & Russ Swank.
About The Westmoreland Museum of American Art:
Western Pennsylvania’s only museum dedicated to American art, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, offers meaningful and engaging cultural experiences that build community and inspire creativity, new ideas, and action through the power of art. The Westmoreland’s extraordinary permanent collection, with its strong focus on the art and artists of Southwestern Pennsylvania, is complemented by an impressive temporary exhibition schedule featuring both nationally traveling exhibitions and those organized by the Museum. Additionally, The Westmoreland presents a full calendar of community-oriented and family-friendly experiences.
General admission to the Museum is free. The Museum’s operating hours are September–May: Wednesday–Sunday, 10am–5pm, June–August: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10am–5pm and Friday, 12–7pm. The Museum is closed Monday and Tuesday and on New Year’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
For more information, visit thewestmoreland.org.
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