CELEBRATING MUHAMMAD ALI

'...keeping his spirit alive'

The word icon is used rather too liberally today – there are but a few who truly deserve that epithet.  Muhammad Ali is certainly one of them.  A boxer whose achievements and influence transcended the worlds of sport and celebrity, and who became universally revered.

The public ‘Ali’ was the three times world heavyweight champion and self-proclaimed ‘the greatest’.  He was never less than entertaining as a fighter – his pre-fight insults to opponents delivered in rhyming couplets, his unorthodox fighting style, and his homespun inspirational views on life. 

This Exhibition aims to celebrate his life in photographs and paintings and to show the many facets of his life and character, and through it to keep his spirit alive.  The show will open on 17^th January 2019 on what would have been his 77^th birthday.

The exhibition is being co-curated by curator and photographer Christina Jansen, and Gallerist Karina Phillips.  In 1986, Christina spent two weeks with Ali and her image, Ali pointing appears in the documentary feature film released by Passion Pictures ‘I AM ALI’.   For the past few years Christina has been working on this exhibition which brings together leading world artists and photographers.  After first presenting the project at the 2012 London Olympics in the gallery at the famous Foreman Smokehouse, the exhibition is now to transfer to central London.

The list of participants boasts some of the world’s best known photographers and renowned artists:

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Neil Leiffer | Ken Regan | Terry O’Neill | Chris Smith | Roberto Robanne | | Sonia Katchian | Neil Kenlock | Graham Wood |  Sally Soames | Christina Jansen |

ARTISTS: Chris Gollon | Ron Chadwick | Rahamann Ali |

The curators will also be working with Boxing Futures, a wonderful charity that aims to support young people who are either involved or at risk of becoming involved with the youth justice system, using the medium of sport.   The exhibition will feature an evening for the charity, and a percentage from the sales of selected artworks will be donated to their work.

Artworks may be viewed here from 14th January 2019.