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Sport

Although art and physical education were considered completely opposing subjects at school, they have actually proven to be a perfect match in the art world. Sport in art has been depicted many times throughout history, and is particularly prominent in contemporary art.

In antiquity, the Greeks worshipped the youthful and athletic body, paintingthe events of the first Olympic Games on pottery in 776 BC. 

Whatever the medium (photography, painting, sculpture, collage, etc.), their anatomy, their psychological state, where they train or even their competitions; athletes are a never-ending source of inspiration for artists. Developing technology and the ability to travel have made the study of sports more accessible to amateurs everywhere. Whether represented in a realistic or symbolic way, sport is a recurrent theme for young artists. Join us at Artsper as we enter sport mode and unveil our very own Olympic podium of artworks.

Photography is probably the first medium we think of when we think about the artistic representation of sport. This is for technical reasons, as speed is needed to capture athletes at the height of their game. Snapshots of athletes are taken on the spot to better capture an accurate portrayal of not only their movements, but also the rising tension between opposite team members. 

Leader of the new wave, Gerry Cranham made a career out of athletics before becoming a coach himself. A passionate photographer, he took photos of the young athletes he trained in order to rectify their techniques, and analyse their running approach. After becoming a professional sports photographer at the age of 28, he quickly established a reputation, spearheading sport photography not only in England but also internationally. His photographs of rugby, football, tennis, wrestling and swimming, were printed worldwide in prestigious magazines such as Sports Illustrated and The Observer. 

Sport also inspired painters throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, which can be seen in Gustave Courbet's 1853 painting, The Wrestlers. This large format oil painting depicts two men engaged in 'French wrestling', in the former hippodrome on the Champs-Élysées. To the right of the painting there is a grandstand filled with spectators who are cheering on the athletes. Even Claude Monet explored the theme of sport with his 1872 work Regattas at Argenteuil, where sailboats leave mesmerising reflections on the water's surface. Meanwhile modern artist Nicolas de Staël, depicts an abstract football match with his work Footballers, where players can only be made out from the use of flat tints of colour that determine their team. 

Like Gerry Cranham, you can also find your calling through contemporary sport painting, sculpture and photography. Discover the works by both established and emerging artists like Victor Spahn, Isabelle Picarel, Michel Birot, Makiko Furuichi and others...  

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Valérie Betoulaud, Aviron - bleu vert, Print

Valérie Betoulaud

Aviron - bleu vert, 2021
27.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
Print

$554

Carmenly, Amy, Painting

Carmenly

Amy, 2021
51.2 x 38.2 x 1.2 inch
Painting

$3,711

Angu Walters, The Last Cyclist, Painting

Angu Walters

The Last Cyclist, 2010
28.3 x 34.6 x 0 inch
Painting

$1,400

Franck Guedj, Mouvement 3.5, Photography

Franck Guedj

Mouvement 3.5, 2019
21.7 x 59.1 x 0.4 inch
Photography

$1,506

Laurent Perbos, Ballon 2, Sculpture

Laurent Perbos

Ballon 2, 2020
9.1 x 18.1 x 9.1 inch
Sculpture

$663

Angu Walters, The Last Cyclist, Print

Angu Walters

The Last Cyclist, 2010
28.3 x 34.6 x 0 inch
Print

$300

Jeeper, David and Steve, Painting

Jeeper

David and Steve, 2021
30.7 x 22.8 x 0.8 inch
Painting

$1,687

Anja Struck, Im Flug, Painting

Anja Struck

Im Flug, 2017
39.4 x 23.6 inch
Painting

$2,892

Fabriano, Porsche 912 verte, Painting

Fabriano

Porsche 912 verte, 2021
23.6 x 28.7 x 1.2 inch
Painting

$4,337

Our recommendations Gerry Cranham, White Hart Lane, Photography

Gerry Cranham

White Hart Lane, 1964
15.7 x 23.6 inch
Photography

$1,807

Eduardo Arroyo, Copa del mundo de futbol, Print

Eduardo Arroyo

Copa del mundo de futbol, 1982
37.4 x 23.6 inch
Print

$843

Speedy Graphito, Karma Super, Sculpture

Speedy Graphito

Karma Super, 2007
15.7 x 11 x 11 inch
Sculpture

$10,723

Denial, Fashion Addict: Burberry pill, Print

Denial

Fashion Addict: Burberry pill, 2019
31.5 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch
Print

$819

Vladimir Velickovic, 26ème Trophée Lancôme, Print

Vladimir Velickovic

26ème Trophée Lancôme, 1995
29.5 x 21.3 inch
Print

$542

Laurent Gudin, Lamb I, Photography

Laurent Gudin

Lamb I, 2009
18.9 x 18.9 x 0 inch
Photography

$2,349

Francky Boy, Sky en Suisse (bas relief), Sculpture

Francky Boy

Sky en Suisse (bas relief), 2011
18.9 x 15.7 x 3 inch
Sculpture

$2,410

Jim Dine, Olympic Robe, Print

Jim Dine

Olympic Robe, 1988
35 x 27 inch
Print

$5,000

Francky Boy, Les 24H du Mans, Print

Francky Boy

Les 24H du Mans, 1998
28 x 34.6 inch
Print

$1,145

Babette Degraeve, Kleine pup met bot (Small puppy with bone), Sculpture

Babette Degraeve

Kleine pup met bot (Small puppy with bone), 2019
3.5 x 3.9 x 5.5 inch
Sculpture

$783

Corinne Dubreuil, Serena, Photography

Corinne Dubreuil

Serena, 2017
15.7 x 23.6 inch
Photography

$1,265

Nelson Leirner, Hot dog, Print

Nelson Leirner

Hot dog, 2013
11.8 x 27.6 inch
Print

$2,410

Yevgeniy Repiashenko, Asphodel, Photography

Yevgeniy Repiashenko

Asphodel, 2020
47.2 x 47.2 x 0 inch
Photography

$2,169

Francky Boy, Viva Mondial, Painting

Francky Boy

Viva Mondial, 1998
54.7 x 76.8 x 3.9 inch
Painting

$26,507

Our recommendations Brian Edenel, Sumo, Sculpture

Brian Edenel

Sumo, 2020
9.8 x 8.3 x 5.5 inch
Sculpture

$627

Agathe Wagner, Le grand saut 5, Fine Art Drawings

Agathe Wagner

Le grand saut 5, 2017
19.7 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$602

Alexis Berg, Retour, Photography

Alexis Berg

Retour, 2018
27.6 x 41.3 x 0 inch
Photography

$1,952

Agathe Wagner, Saut 1, Painting

Agathe Wagner

Saut 1, 2016
19.7 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch
Painting

$783

Jean-Luc Lopez, Rugby de placage, Fine Art Drawings

Jean-Luc Lopez

Rugby de placage, 2021
16.5 x 22 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$506

Our recommendations Cristina Aldehuela, Lelo 1, Photography

Cristina Aldehuela

Lelo 1, 2014
15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
Photography

$1,566

Our recommendations Patrick Gripe, Polytechnique, Photography

Patrick Gripe

Polytechnique, 2001
15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
Photography

$1,145

Jean-François Talivez, Power struggle, Photography

Jean-François Talivez

Power struggle, 1992
23.6 x 15.7 inch
Photography

$1,060

Gérard Uféras, Opéra XIV, Photography

Gérard Uféras

Opéra XIV, 2006
23.6 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
Photography

$1,627

Mark Leech, Diego, Photography

Mark Leech

Diego, 1980
23.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch
Photography

$1,277

Frédéric de Torcy, Rugby - Placage, Painting

Frédéric de Torcy

Rugby - Placage, 2021
39.4 x 29.5 inch
Painting

$1,687

Elisa Haberer, Plongeurs, Photography

Elisa Haberer

Plongeurs, 2008
39.4 x 39.4 x 0 inch
Photography

$4,097

Antonio de Felipe, Comerse el coco II, Painting

Antonio de Felipe

Comerse el coco II, 2009
45.7 x 35 x 1.6 inch
Painting

$12,049

Jodi Bieber, Cardiff by night, Photography

Jodi Bieber

Cardiff by night, 2003
27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
Photography

$3,181

LeRoy Neiman, Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal / Los Angeles Lakers), Print

LeRoy Neiman

Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal / Los Angeles Lakers), 2000
47 x 32 inch
Print

$4,500

Pierre-Emmanuel Rastoin, Green and Bunker, Photography

Pierre-Emmanuel Rastoin

Green and Bunker, 2011
23.6 x 31.5 x 0 inch
Photography

$2,229

Our recommendations Julien Poupart, Ensemble, Photography

Julien Poupart

Ensemble, 2011
15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
Photography

$1,145

Laurence Pubert, A la trace - série Rugby, Sculpture

Laurence Pubert

A la trace - série Rugby, 2019
11.8 x 13.8 x 7.9 inch
Sculpture

$6,651

Catherine de Kerhor, Papa ours, Sculpture

Catherine de Kerhor

Papa ours, 2019
9.8 x 7.9 x 9.4 inch
Sculpture

$5,844

Bruno Charoy, Tracks II, Photography

Bruno Charoy

Tracks II, 2014
15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
Photography

$964

Christophe Paucelier, Michel Desjoyeaux, Photography

Christophe Paucelier

Michel Desjoyeaux, 2008
23.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch
Photography

$1,084

Thomas Hoeffgen, Lagos la dingue, Photography

Thomas Hoeffgen

Lagos la dingue, 2009
15.7 x 40.6 x 0 inch
Photography

$2,410

Michel Birot, Source, Photography

Michel Birot

Source, 2002
15.7 x 42.1 x 0 inch
Photography

$1,807

Polo 51.67, His aimess, Print

Polo 51.67

His aimess, 2018
16.1 x 22 inch
Print

$108

Clément Poitrenaud, Luke McAlister, Photography

Clément Poitrenaud

Luke McAlister, 2015
11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
Photography

$1,325

Chiara Dazi, Le lutteur, Photography

Chiara Dazi

Le lutteur, 2003
23.6 x 23.6 inch
Photography

$1,205

Isabelle Picarel, Ecosse, Photography

Isabelle Picarel

Ecosse, 2013
20.9 x 31.5 inch
Photography

$1,265

Pawel Skurski, Run against the Shadow, Painting

Pawel Skurski

Run against the Shadow, 2004
39.4 x 43.3 x 0.8 inch
Painting

$4,217

Laurent Troude, Jougs, Photography

Laurent Troude

Jougs, 2007
15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
Photography

$1,386

Catherine Cabrol, Laura Flessel, Photography

Catherine Cabrol

Laura Flessel, 2004
15 x 20.5 x 0 inch
Photography

$1,446

Maud Bernos, Bertrand de Broc, Photography

Maud Bernos

Bertrand de Broc, 2013
31.5 x 31.5 x 2 inch
Photography

$3,615

Laget81, My Nastase, Painting

Laget81

My Nastase, 2019
18.1 x 24 x 1.6 inch
Painting

$5,422

Patrick Villas, Untitled, Fine Art Drawings

Patrick Villas

Untitled, 2013
19.7 x 25.6 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,446

TMM, Snowboard Picture, Sculpture

TMM

Snowboard Picture, 2019
63 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch
Sculpture

$1,145

Lionel Morateur, Mort d'un clown, Photography

Lionel Morateur

Mort d'un clown, 2019
23.6 x 35.4 x 0.2 inch
Photography

$1,205

William Sweetlove, Olympic Stars Between Rabbits, Print

William Sweetlove

Olympic Stars Between Rabbits, 2008
37 x 27.6 x 0 inch
Print

$418 $542

Guillaume Herbaut, Tchernobyl, Photography

Guillaume Herbaut

Tchernobyl, 2009
23.6 x 29.5 x 0 inch
Photography

$3,554

Ben, Life Is Competition, Print

Ben

Life Is Competition, 1992
24.8 x 35.4 x 0 inch
Print

$1,795

JPx, Voiliers colorés 3, Painting

JPx

Voiliers colorés 3, 2021
31.5 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch
Painting

$422

Max Ernst, Jeu d'échecs en Or 23 carats et Argent sulfurisé 1er titre, Sculpture

Max Ernst

Jeu d'échecs en Or 23 carats et Argent sulfurisé 1er titre, 1965
23.6 x 23.6 x 2 inch
Sculpture

$1,024,125

Gilles Aillaud, Tennis, Print

Gilles Aillaud

Tennis, 1982
29.9 x 22 inch
Print

$904

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