The Cleve Carney Museum of Art presents “The Saturday Man: At the Edge of the Game,” showcasing the world’s most popular sport through the lens of legendary photographer Peter Robinson, whose six-decade career includes 20 years as FIFA’s Official Photographer, covering 13 World Cups, 9 Olympic Games, and hundreds of soccer matches in England and Europe in the 1960s and 1970s.
On view May 30–Aug. 9, the exhibit offers an intimate, human-centered perspective on the sport, highlighting the evolution from its grassroots origins to the modern global spectacle, its communities, rituals and the personalities that define soccer beyond the pitch.
Described by Pablo Maurer of The Athletic as “arguably the world’s greatest living soccer photographer,” what distinguishes Robinson’s work is his storytelling approach. Rather than focusing solely on the action on the field, his photography explores the human condition through soccer — from fans and stadiums to managers, players and the surrounding communities.
Robinson’s career spans from capturing intensely local British soccer in the 1960s to documenting the unconventional and now-defunct North American Soccer League and later becoming a photographer for FIFA. His work has appeared in leading publications including Sports Illustrated and Onze, cementing his reputation as one of the most influential photographers of his generation.
“Peter’s work reminds us why people throughout the world love the sport of soccer,” said Justin Witte, Director and Curator of the CCMA. “It is not the star players or multi-million-dollar stadiums. Instead, it is the stories of the communities, supporters and fans that surround the game and make it connect with so many people in so many places.”
For this exhibit, Robinson’s work will be displayed in the following sections:
The Pitch: The orderly rectangles seen on TV broadcasts stand in stark contrast to the game day experiences captured by Peter Robinson. Robinson’s photography is informed just as much by his immediate surroundings as it is by the action on the field. Spectator, player, sideline and stands blur into one layered landscape, turning ordinary scenes into extraordinary compositions.
Beyond the Pitch: Robinson’s lens moves beyond match action to capture intimate, often humorous moments among fans, revealing the culture and community that sustain the sport.
Rituals: From pre-match routines to heartfelt memorials, Robinson documents how players and fans overlay the rituals of life onto the clubs they represent and support, imbuing the club identity with a deep significance.
Managing the Game: A focused grouping of photographs explores the presence and influence of iconic managers in locker rooms, boardrooms and behind-the-scenes spaces rarely seen by fans.
Stadium: Iconic venues such as Anfield, La Bombonera and San Siro are presented as cultural landmarks. Robinson contrasts these towering structures with everyday life unfolding beyond their walls.
The Players: Robinson portrays players with authenticity and grit, stripping away glamour to emphasize teamwork, identity and the shared experience of the game.
Icons: Famous players and fans appear in candid, human moments, offering a more personal look at figures often portrayed as mythic celebrities.
Beyond the Gates: Soccer’s influence extends into streets, pubs and homes. Robinson documents how the game permeates everyday life around the world.''
In the Stands: Images of English soccer crowds from the 1960s through the 1980s capture the energy and community that once defined matchday experiences.
“The Saturday Man: At the Edge of the Game” is curated by Justin Witte, Director and Curator of the CCMA, and Maria VanDyken Li Co-Director at The Footy Museum. The exhibition will be on view May 30 – Aug. 9. Admission is free. CCMA’s summer hours are Wednesday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and one hour prior to Lakeside Pavilion evening events. For more information, visit TheCCMA.org and follow along at @CleveCarneyMuseumofArt.
Expert insight into the exhibition’s themes is available through CleveCast, the Cleve Carney Museum of Art’s new podcast, where Justin Witte hosts conversations with special guests including curators, artists and scholars for behind-the-scenes stories and deep dives into the museum’s exhibitions. CleveCast can be found on the CCMA website at theccma.org/clevecast.
About the Cleve Carney Museum of Art
The late Cleve Carney provided a significant legacy gift to establish the Cleve Carney Art Gallery at College of DuPage. The gallery opened in February 2014 with its inaugural exhibition, “Selections from Cleve Carney’s Art Collection.” In fall 2019, the gallery was expanded to a 2,500 square-foot museum. The Cleve Carney Museum of Art opened June 2021 with the highly anticipated “Frida Kahlo: Timeless” exhibition. Recent major exhibitions have included “WARHOL” (summer 2023) and “Hokusai & Ukiyo-e: The Floating World” (summer 2025).
Funding is provided by the Cleve Carney Endowment Fund, which supports vital programming including artist engagement opportunities for community members and students, gallery exhibitions, artist commissions, new acquisitions and other teaching and learning tools that foster cultural enrichment in our community. More information can be found at TheCCMA.org and on social media @CleveCarneyMuseumofArt.