Stephen Holland

b.1941
The ability to convey the drama and vitality of the athlete with the vividness of his brushstroke has given classically-trained fine artist Stephen Holland international acclaim in both the visual arts and sports worlds. He received national recognition in 1993, when the American Sport Art Museum awarded him the Sports Artist of the Year. Other honors include being the official artist of the Los Angeles Kings and being one of the twelve artists selected by the United States Olympic Committee to represent the 100th Anniversary of the Olympics. He is most known for his magnificent portrait of the World's Greatest Athlete - Muhammad Ali. His work has been showcased in several museums and galleries in the United States, as well as in the collections of celebrities, athletes, and private collectors around the globe.

As a child, Holland was handicapped, which prevented him from playing sports. However, his handicap made him an even more talented painter. His talent blossomed when attending a special high school that devoted half of every day to art studies. After this, Holland went to New York and attended the Art Students League, The School of Visual Arts, and Pratt Institute.