A rare occurrence will happen tonight at the Newbury Fine Arts Gallery (29 Newbury St.): a New Yorker will be welcomed to Boston with open arms. One of the world’s leading sports artists, Stephen Holland will unveil his newest work, “Cam Neely on Ice,” a portrait and giclee (similar to a lithograph) of Boston Bruins great Cam Neely.
Holland, a Bronx native, made a name for himself immortalizing the underdog and the rebel, whether a sports figure or otherwise. The exhibit features portraits of Hank Aaron, Joe Montana, Ted Williams and Steve McQueen. A lifelong sports fanatic, Holland was kept off the field by a childhood illness, so he turned his talents to painting.
His unique mix of graffiti, modern art and portraiture has garnered him a devout following. A Canadian art collector purchased every print but one of Holland’s portrait of Bruins player Bobby Orr, the last one of which is on display at the Gallery.
Holland made a name for himself through his portraits of Muhammad Ali. Through his work, Holland forged a friendship with both Ali and his manager, who commissioned him to do other sports work. A set of three portraits of Ali (at the beginning, height and end of his career) is on display and for sale at the exhibit.
There are only 99 brand-new Neely giclees, all signed by both Neely and Holland. The first twenty are on sale for $1,750 each (unframed). So trade in your dining plan for two Neelys. It’s worth the investment.