As you get to know the staff at Abigail Ogilvy Gallery, you will quickly learn that in addition to being art enthusiasts, we have a history as athletes. Our gallery owner, Abigail Ogilvy, played four years of college lacrosse, our Boston gallery manager, John Witkowski, is a former professional baseball player, and Anna Staton (myself!), is one of the gallery's summer interns and also a current ice hockey player for Colby College. Whether you played sports growing up or are simply hoping for a Celtics parade this summer, all art lovers can appreciate the beautifully interconnected nature of art and athletics. Below are five artworks that we thought perfectly highlight this connection.
1. Teddy Benfield, Untitled (Indoor Open 3), 2021, House paint, acrylic paint, oil pastel, krink ink, ink, china marker, spray paint on canvas, 36 x 72 in, triptych.
Teddy Benfield’s recent work focuses on the perception of interior and exterior environments and our relationship with personal space. Untitled (Indoor Open 3) evokes these feelings by showcasing the sports fan's experience. As fans, we squeeze elbow-to-elbow into packed stadiums hoping to witness greatness. Our personal space is temporarily suspended to share the common experience of excitement and awe that comes with watching sports.
2. Elizabeth King Stanton, Ready, 2024, Acrylic and flashe on canvas stretched on wood panel, 16 x 12 in.
Growing up in our household, everyone played a sport. Ready by Elizabeth King Stanton exemplifies the effort and coordination that my parents weathered throughout my childhood to transport four kids to practice, games, workouts, etc. The end of the work day meant the start of sports practices, grocery shopping, doctor appointments, and all of the duties that come with providing for four young athletes. Those who grew up playing sports or are now raising athletes can understand the importance of a mother’s multitasking abilities displayed in Ready.
3. Pelle Cass, MIT at BU Dive Meet, Legs, 2023, Inkjet print on heavy matte rag paper, 24 x 36 in.
In his "Crowded Fields" series, Pelle Cass sought to put on full display the eeriness of time and a sense of play for the athletes that he photographed. This piece also unmistakably emphasizes how much movement and precision is necessary for these athletes. In contrast to Teddy Benfield’s work, Pelle Cass focuses solely on the athletes themselves by omitting the movement of the fans completely.
4. Hugh Hayden, Rapunzel and Cinderella Installation View, Installation images courtesy of Lisson Gallery.
In his exhibition, "Huey," at the Lisson Gallery in New York, Hugh Hayden’s work focuses on the ideas of church, sport, school, and hair in the American youth experience. Rapunzel and Cinderella are made from woven hair, rattan, and vine. The woven elements of these pieces highlight the tension between hypermasculine sports and the tedious process of keeping up one’s appearance. Many athletes are familiar with the adage, “Look good, feel good, play good.” which comes out in Hayden’s works. As sports at all levels become increasingly visible, there is more pressure not only to perform at your highest level but to look good while doing it. Good hair, new shoes, and expensive equipment are indicators of professionalism among athletes.
Installation images courtesy of Lisson Gallery.
5. Martin Schoeller, Rosemary Jennings, 2003, Photograph.
In Martin Schoeller’s "Female Bodybuilders" series, he highlights the incredible dedication and sacrifice that these women undertake to achieve excellence in their sport. Many are on strict diets and take performance-enhancing drugs that create risks for their health so that they can stand out from their competition. Schoeller does not wish to judge his subjects but simply points out that they are as vulnerable as the next person in our beauty-dominated society, despite being professional athletes.
Image courtesy of Martin Schoeller.
Written by Anna Staton.
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