From collection Muhammad Ali Center Permanent Collection
Muhammad Ali Mixed Media Painting
“I know where I’m going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I’m free to be what I want.” - Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali (1942-2016), born Cassius Clay Jr, was not only a sensational athlete, but a compassionate human being who became a voice for a generation. Ali’s impact both in and out of the ring will forever live on in American history.
In 1967, Ali – then known as the Heavy Weight World Champion began one of the greatest ‘fights’, when he refused to be drafted into the armed forces to fight in the Vietnam War. Citing religious reasons Ali’s beliefs never wavered despite the consequences of his championship titles being stripped from him, the threat of prison and the ban from the sport of boxing he loved. His decision sent shock waves around the world. William Rhoden, a New York Times columnist, wrote “Ali’s actions changed my standards of what constituted an athlete’s greatness.”
Highlighting Ali’s greatest fight in the courts of justice in Clay V. United States, John Stango’s painting embodies the struggle he had with the American government and his relentless determination to uphold his beliefs to not fight another man’s war. The American Flag looms over Ali, who shows unyielding confidence and determination. Ali’s gaze at the viewer is strong and inquisitive; almost inquiring the viewer to see beyond the surface. Stango’s painting cements the legend of Muhammad Ali and the various facets he encompassed during his life.
