Lou On Lumber is an annual summer exhibit showcased at Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. The exhibit aims to celebrate Louisville culture through the eyes of local artists.

We are looking for five artists to paint the barrels of five Louisville Slugger bats with imagery that follows the theme of ‘hometown pride.’ We encourage you to use imagery of famous Louisville landmarks, events and icons such as Louisville Slugger, Belle of Louisville, the Derby and related events. Artists selected from the application pool will have approximately nine and a half weeks from the date they receive their bats to complete their proposed designs before May 19 - the installation date.

Hillerich & Bradsby Co. - makers of Louisville Slugger - will cover supply costs for each artist up to $200, which the artists will receive along with their bats March 12-14. Each selected artist will receive two bats, although only one will be for display. Bat handles will be painted black.

The five finished bats will be on display at Louisville Slugger Museum through August 4, 2025 - a period in which about 100,000 guests will have a chance to see the artists’ work!

Below is a timeline of events and what you will need to submit if you wish to apply. We wish you luck and cannot wait to see your designs!

Timeline

January 13 - March 9: Application period

March 11: Five artists, selected by a panel of Louisville Slugger Museum leadership, will be contacted by the museum to be notified of their selection.

March 12-14: Chosen artists will be able to pick up their full-size bats and a $200 gift card from the museum to get to work.

April 9: Museum will reach out to artists to check in on design progress at the midway point.

May 14-17: Bat drop-off period. All artists must submit their bats to the museum in install-ready condition. This means any paint or added materials should be fully attached and 100% dry. Bats that do not meet this criteria will not be displayed.

May 19 - August 4: “Lou on Lumber” bats will be on display. The display will include a short biography of each artist along with a photo.

August 5-10: Bat pick up period.

Application Requirements

All applicants must be residents of the Kentuckiana area and provide their full name and email, and be 18 and up or have parental permission (consent form required). Applicants must also submit:

• At least five good quality images of what you feel is your “best work” or provide an artist page/social media handle. Please only submit social handles if they are dedicated to your work- no personal profiles!
• Well-lit photos of sketches detailing the design you wish to put on your bat. Don’t feel limited to only using paint, doing one face of the barrel, or keeping your design strictly 2D, we want this design to reflect your style and creative peak! Digital drawings, notes, and any reference photos that you feel are relevant and important to your sketch should also be submitted. Keep in mind that the handle of your bat will be painted black. The entire bat “canvas” will be about 18 inches long by 2 ¾ inches circumference.

Submissions

Please fill out the form below to submit your application. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on March 9, 2025. For questions about the exhibit, please contact kc.colorado@sluggermuseum.com.