The Squared Circle: Boxing in Contemporary Art

It was noted art critic Jack Handey who first noticed the relationship between boxing and fine art, describing it as “like a ballet, except there’s no music, no choreography and the dancers hit each other.” Except Handey’s not an art critic, he’s the guy who wrote “Deep Thoughts” for Saturday Night Live. Boxing and art have been one-two punching together for decades, with artists finding rich ground for exploring issues of race, masculinity, and violence. The Walker’s 30-artist exhibit goes the full 15 rounds with modern representations of the sport, covering the period from Muhammad Ali’s 1970s heyday to the present. Works include Jean-Michel Basquiat’s graffiti tribute to Sugar Ray Robinson, and Stephan Banz’s intriguing photography series of more than 100 people from across Europe striking their best Ali pose.
Charlie Kraft, Aimee Whatley, Matt Larson, Levi and Gabriel Michael