Be Killer
24″ h x 18″ w, archival print (signed, numbered 18/25) (2019)
Boxing is one of my favorite sports, and for my birthday one year my wife got me a framed poster of this iconic image of Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston. I still have that print, but on my wall I’ve upgraded to this fabulous version by Robert Mars. Mars’ style is known as “Futurelics” — taking portions of the past (particularly the mid-20th century) and giving them a retro-futurist vibe. Again, I enjoy the pulpy, almost comic-book style elements paired with the strong sense of history and identity. And the swatch is a piece of fabric from one of Ali’s hand wraps, which intersects with a much older love of mine than art — sports memorabilia. My home office actually has only one art piece hung up (this one), but it has a dozen or so autographed pictures and bits of sports gear ranging from baseballs to boxing trunks.
I also did the frame job on this one myself (the frame originally housed the Earl Newman silk screen I currently have for sale). I think I did a pretty nice job, if you all will allow me to say so!
David Schraub 