The Art

I co-owned an art gallery for 4 years and I had the privilege to meet some fascinating collectors, dealers and celebrity artists. They all had their opinions as to what art meant to them. In my mind if I liked what I saw and could identify with the images I made my purchase.

Sting Like A Bee
Sting Like a Bee signed by Muhammad Ali circa 1979. Courtesy of The Museum of UnCut Funk Collection.

As my appreciation for art intensified I was contacted by an Australian art dealer who had an offering on a Muhammad Ali lithograph. He e-mailed me pictures and I was captivated by the imagery. I’m a huge fan and collector of animation and comic book art so I had to add this litho to my collection.

Now art is subjective and many art critics have panned celebrity art. Baird Jones, a critic for Artnet.com says “celebrity art combines the worst of several worlds. Since most stars who make art have little art training, their work tends to be a historical, a Hollywood version of naïve or outsider art. Furthermore, since celebrity art is shunned by top galleries, it’s usually displayed side-by-side with kitsch and low-grade prints”. He may be right in his opinion but Muhammad Ali is a cultural icon and any memorabilia from his years as a boxer, activist and humanitarian has increased in value and is extremely sought after.

You decide what art means to you but 20 to 30 years from now you’d wish you had a part of Ali’s sports history in your collection. The Ali lithos are all 18 by 24 inches, and were published in 1979 in editions of 500. Three have religious imagery and cost $8,500 each:

Under the Sun which shows a jet plane; Guiding Light showing an image of a lighthouse; and the eponymous Mosque II. The fourth is a cartoonish scene of the boxing ring, titled Sting Like a Bee, that retails for $12,500 and by today’s standards for buying art is considered a bargain.

Although the art is hard to find and is sought after by fans and collectors alike, these are truly one of a kind pieces and should be apart of any collection.

Under The Sun
Under The Sun signed by Muhammad Ali. Courtesy of Ro Gallery

Mosque ll
Mosque ll signed by Muhammad Ali. Courtesy of Ro Gallery

Guiding Light
Guiding Light signed by Muhammad Ali. Courtesy of Ro Gallery

The Man Behind the art:

Young Ali

Who would’ve thought that a stolen bike was the key to the beginning of the Muhammad Ali story? But it was. In 1954 in Louisville, Kentucky, 12-year-old Cassius Marcellus Clay’s bike was stolen while he and a friend were at the Columbia Auditorium.

Young Cassius found a cop in a gym, Joe Martin, and boiling with youthful rage, told Martin he was going to “whup” whoever stole his bike. Martin admonished, “You better learn to box first.” Within weeks, 89-pound Cassius had his first bout—his first win.

For the next 27 years, Cassius would be in that ring. Even in his youth, he had dreams of being heavyweight champion of the world. But his life would take turns that no seer could’ve predicted.

Ali Fist

Young Cassius dedicated himself to boxing with fervor unmatched by other young boxers. Indeed, it was his only activity. As a teenager, he never worked. He boxed and trained. He had 108 amateur bouts. According to Joe Martin, Clay set himself apart from the other boys by two things: He was “sassy,” and he outworked all the other boys. The work paid off: 6 Kentucky Golden Gloves championships; two National Golden Gloves championships; two National AAU titles before he was 18 years old. And the son of Odessa, whom he lovingly referred to as “Bird,” and Cassius senior, “Cash,” to everyone, won the Olympic Gold Medal in 1960 in Rome months after his 18th birthday. Although Cassius returned home to a parade, Louisville was still, in 1960 part of the segregated South. Even with a medal around his neck, Cassius was refused service at a local restaurant.

Muhammad Ali

At the time, Cassius has managed by the Louisville Sponsoring Group, a consortium of wealthy local white businessmen. The LSG, as it became known, put young Cassius with veteran trainer, Angelo Dundee, after failed attempts to with the Mongoose, Archie Moore, and a turn down by Ali’s boxing idol, Sugar Ray Robinson.

With Dundee in his corner, from his Miami base, Cassius blazed a trail through the heavyweight division with his unorthodox style that defied boxing logic. He was a “headhunter.” He never threw body shots (he adopted this style in his youth because he had reach and because he didn’t want to get close enough to get hit). And he “danced.” Because of Clay’s powerful legs—maybe the strongest in the history of boxing—he literally floated in the ring. He invented the “Ali Shuffle;” a foot maneuver where he would elevate himself, shuffle his feet in a dazzling blur, and sometimes deliver a blow while dancing.

The third element that Clay brought to boxing was his mouth. He never shut up. He became known as, “The Louisville Lip.” It was more than banter; it was a constant harangue. In a time when boxers never talked to the media—their managers always spoke for them—Clay did all his own talking. He even went so far as to predict the round. “To prove I’m great he will fall in eight!”

While training for his title bout against the fearsome heavyweight champion, Sonny Liston, Clay met Cap’n Sam, a Nation of Islam minister of the local Miami mosque. Cap’n Sam introduced Cassius to NOI spokesman, Malcolm X. Malcolm and young Cassius bonded on a deep level. Malcolm brought Cassius into the Nation of Islam.

Despite the 7-1 odds, Clay upset Sonny Liston in Miami and became heavyweight champion of the world in 1964. The next day, Clay announced to the world that he was a member of the Nation of Islam and that his name was Cassius X. The X reflecting the unknown name that was taken from him by the slave owners centuries before.

Ali and The Jacksons

The national response was immediate, negative and intense. Cassius X, soon to be given the name Muhammad Ali, by NOI founder, “The Messenger,” the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, chose to disassociate himself from his friend and mentor Malcolm X after the Messenger suspended Malcolm. Herbert Muhammad, eldest son of Elijah, was installed as Ali’s new manager as Ali continued to defend his crown against all comers.

In 1967, as the Vietnam War was escalating, Ali was called up for induction into the Armed Services. Ali refused induction on the grounds of religious beliefs. He was, in fact, a practicing Muslim minister. This refusal led to the now-famous Ali quote, “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong…”

The national furor over that comment combined with Ali’s refusal to be inducted into the Armed Services, caused virtually every state and local entity in America to cancel Ali’s boxing licenses. Ali final fight of 1967 was against Ernie Terrell, who incensed Ali at the weigh-in by calling him “Clay.” Ali pounded him in the ring with taunts of, “What’s my name?!!”

Ali Training

Ali did not fight again for 2 ½ years. He was stripped of his championship title, his passport taken; all his boxing licenses were cancelled. He lost an initial court battle and was facing a 5-year prison term. Ali made money during his exile by speaking to colleges. He was the first national figure to speak out against the war in Vietnam.

In 1970, after a 2 ½ year layoff, and with the mood of the country changing, Ali staged his comeback, first against Jerry Quarry in Atlanta then for what was billed as, “The Fight,” his first match against undefeated champ, Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971.

Ali fought valiantly, but lost. The 2½ year exile had cost Ali his legs. He could no longer dance. He lost that night in the Garden, but months later he won his biggest fight, the Supreme Court, reversed his conviction and upheld his conscientious objector claim. Ali was free of the specter of jail, and free to travel to box anywhere in the world.

Several matches followed, including an unexpected loss to ex-Marine, Ken Norton; a win in their next bout; an uninspired win against Joe Frazier. But these matches were but window dressing for the biggest match of Ali’s career: The Rumble In the Jungle.

George Foreman was a fearsome champ. He had thunder and destruction in both hands. He had easily knocked out Ken Norton and had lifted Frazier off the mat with one blow.

Promoter Don King got the government of the African nation of Zaire to guarantee the unheard of sum of 10 million dollars for the fighters. In Kinshasa, Ali derived strength from the African people. They adored him. They yelled, Ali Bomaye! (Ali kill him).

Ali and The City

Going into the fight, Ali was 3-1 underdog. His fight doctor, Ferdie Pacheco, had a jet ready to spirit Ali away to a neurological hospital in Spain after the fight. But Ali had other ideas.

Because of the heat, Ali realized he couldn’t dance from Foreman for the whole fight. He invented, “The Rope-A-Dope,” a strategy that allowed Foreman to pound on him until Foreman tired. His corner men yelled at him to get off the ropes, but Ali persisted with his strategy for seven rounds and then in the eighth round, when Foreman was spent, Ali came off the ropes and scored a shocking knockout! Ali was the king again.

After the legendary “Thrilla In Manila,” the rubber match against Frazier, who some have deemed, the greatest boxing match ever, Ali fought and lost to young Olympic Champion Leon Spinks. He subsequently regained his title against Spinks, thus becoming, at that time, the only man in heavyweight history to win the crown three times. Ali ended his career 56 wins (37 by knockout) and 5 defeats.

Ali has three ex-wives and nine children: Maryum, Rasheeda, Jamillah, Hana, Laila, Khaliah, Miya, Muhammad Junior, and Asaad. Ali is married to the former Lonnie Williams of Louisville. Ali has known Lonnie since her family moved across the street from the Clay family when she was 6 years old.

Ali has inspired millions worldwide. He gave people hope and proved that anyone could overcome insurmountable odds. He gave people courage. He made fighters of us all. This is Ali and never comes another.

The Greatnest

Please visit The Muhammad Ali Center – www.alicenter.org


Contributor: Gregory Allen Howard, he is the award-winning screenwriter of Remember the Titans. He also wrote the original story for the movie, ALI.

26 Comments

  • Sheryl
    September 7, 2011

    Hello,

    I bought “Float like a butterfly….” at the Gallery party in 1979 when Ali’s artwork was first offered. I took it to be re-framed last month in New Jersey and whoever did the work destroyed it; They cut the paper from the bottom left straight up through Mohammad Ali’s name.

    Of course they deny doing it and I’m presently suing them.

    Do you have any ideas where I can repair it, or who might be interested in purchasing it with the damage?

    Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.

    Sheryl Frost

  • Felecia
    October 7, 2012

    Hello, I am interested in finding out some information about the snapshot of young Cassius punching directly into the camera.
    Is there a name to this artwork?
    Do you have any idea where it could be purchased?

    Thank-you!

  • Tyrone
    May 22, 2014

    I have one of the float like a butterfly cartoon paintings from the ring.Any idea of the value today?

  • Tyrone
    May 22, 2014

    And it’s signed by Ali

  • May 23, 2015

    I have a water color painting from m prior and i dont know if its rare, till i find out, then i will sell, only if its big bucks,otherwise i will keep in my room, if anyones intersted, send me your email or cell number and i can show this painting, its difgferent shades of dark brown black and light brown, has muhamm ali, suger ray leaonard, marvin hagler mike tyson and other boxer i cant remember who it is, and i was a boxer,lol and my uncle was in the golden gloves.

  • May 23, 2015

    I am the guy with the painting of m prior, my email is cuc73@aol.com or txt me 347 737 0042 and i can show pic from my cell. i am in new york

  • Cheryl
    January 2, 2016

    M. Ali drew the “Under the Sun” in pen ink (signed and dated (1987) by him to me) on a gray cloth place mat from a local PA restaurant (restaurant is long gone) and I still have it, stored away. It is a special gift.

  • M. McEntee
    May 5, 2016

    I have an unsigned version of Guiding Light that I bought in the mid-eighties in a gallery in Soho in NYC. It has some flaws on the bottom and sides where the ink does not go to the edges. The salesperson said that’s why it wasn’t signed and was being sold for a low price…$25 if I remember correctly. I love it. Is there anyway to get it signed? If not, what is its approximate value? It is in fine shape and framed. Thanks.

  • Andrea
    May 22, 2016

    I have two of them but I would like to post the pictures to see if somebody can tell me the approximate value and I place where I can sell them.

  • Brenda Pazos
    June 4, 2016

    My friend has a signed “Guiding Light ” with Ali’s signature on it. Her mother bought it in NY .. what is it worth today?

  • Al Wile
    June 5, 2016

    I got a copy of “Float Like A Butterfly” from an art store next door to the New York City Downtown Atletic club in November 1974 when I coached the Air Force Academy boxing team. The DAC was presenting the “Rocky Marciano Award” to Ali and I traded a boxing glove for the art store director for him to get signed. I have the print framed and treasure it.

  • July 22, 2016

    I have a sketch that Mohammed ali done in a restaurant in Dublin Ireland when he was here for the special Olympics signed and dated to mike its biro on a linen napkin looks very like his guiding light ,looking for a valuation

  • Erica
    August 2, 2016

    The three pictures above I know someone who has all three original paintings. He’s actually wanting to sell them. Anyone want to buy them?

    • Rick Perez
      August 21, 2016

      Yes please contact me. Depending on the price

      • Michael Dever
        June 21, 2017

        Rick, are you still interested in the serigraphs ?? if so please contact me

    • October 12, 2016

      Erica and Rick – which three originals does your friend have?? I may have the fourth…

  • Anthony Berube
    August 29, 2016

    I have print number 80 from the “Sting Like a Bee” collection. I have owned it for 35 years and due to illness I would like to sell it. Contact me at aberube@sprynet.com.

  • Greg
    July 14, 2017

    I have 3 paintings ond of which is on egyption papryus paper and signed by muhammad Ali with COA its is egyption art but i cant find any info.on them can.someone please help with a possible value and if its real. I am going to sell it i.need money badly if anyone is interested email me harattack1789@gmail.com my name is Greg.

  • Mark Seltzer
    May 9, 2018

    If anyone is interested, I have #5 of the original painting Ali donated to the UN. Includes the white man, before the UN made Ali change it. “Let My People Go” mr92103@yahoo.com Mark

  • Durango Mateo Galiano
    October 13, 2018

    I have all of these paintings by ali, all of them signed. I’m letting them all go for cheap, pleas e email me if interested.

  • Jim Clopton
    August 20, 2019

    I have a beautiful wood gold leaf framed Artist Proof of both “Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee” and “Guiding Light”. Both were purchased in Soho sometime in the mid-seventies (to the best of my knowledge, My friend got the other two in the series of four that Ali did for the UN
    We love them

  • Anna Light
    May 5, 2020

    Anna Light
    May 5th 2020
    I have a Beautiful Painting Signed M. Ali it’s tribal people in a Village and in canoes. I don’t know if

    it’s the real deal or not. How do I go about finding out?

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