Muhammad Ali Portrait, people have been creating portraits for centuries trying to accurately portray a person’s likeness in all sorts of styles and techniques. So how does an artist now-a-day create a one of a kind portrait that doesn’t get lost in the crowd? Apparently, it takes a lot of dedication, hard work, and a unique view and understanding of the model. It took artist Michael Kalish nearly three years in order to complete his portrait of Muhammad Ali. The heavyweight champion’s likeness is represented through the use of 1,300 punching bags hung from 6.5 miles of steel cable and 2,500 pounds of aluminum pipe.
The entire installation comes to an overwhelming height of 22 feet tall.The punching bags are arranged in layers, and although it is only from the front that the portrait can be accurately seen.
The work is interesting and compelling from every angle and perspective.
In late March 2011, concert-goers, pedestrians and different visitors to the L.A. Live complex in downtown L.A. were greeted by the brand new, large-scale artwork installation depicting boxing tale Muhammad Ali.
Kristin Hoover is an editor at Arch2O and a proud graduate of Virginia Tech. Since joining in July 2014, she has authored over 200 insightful articles covering everything from adaptive reuse and cultural centers to eco-buildings and urban infrastructure . With a passion for architectural storytelling, Kristin skillfully curates and crafts compelling narratives that bring design innovation to life. Her editorial work reflects a broad yet finely honed interest in how architecture intersects with society, technology, and the environment—making her a key voice shaping Arch2O’s explorations of contemporary built form.