4ft x 4ft (122 × 122 cm)
Original Decollage on Cradled Wood Panel (7.5 cm)
Yellow Neon Crown
Resin Finish with 24 Carat Gold Leaf
Muhammad Ali GOAT Series
Muhammad Ali was more than a boxer. He was a cultural force who challenged authority, confronted racial injustice and redefined what it meant to be a champion. His influence extended far beyond the boxing ring, making him one of the most recognisable and influential figures of the twentieth century.
The title What's My Name references Ali's refusal to be defined by the name Cassius Clay, and his demand to be recognised on his own terms. It became a statement of identity, defiance and self-determination, most famously during his 1967 fight against Ernie Terrell.
Constructed through layers of torn boxing posters, newspaper clippings, graffiti and halftone imagery, the artwork forms a fragmented visual biography of Ali's life and career. References to the Rumble in the Jungle, Thrilla in Manila and his 1960 Olympic triumph in Rome sit among fragments of the visual culture that shaped his legend.
Rooki's trademark dripping crown sits around Ali's eye, illuminated in yellow neon. In graffiti culture, a crown marks respect, given by impact, not position. Here, it represents a man whose greatness was earned not only through his achievements in the ring, but through his courage and conviction outside it.
The weathered and decayed surface reflects the advertising boards found throughout the streets of Manchester, where layers of posters have been built up, torn back and exposed to the elements over time. The resin preserves the history beneath it, allowing the scars, fragments and textures of the original surface to break through.
Details of 24ct gold leaf reference the Olympic gold medal Ali won in Rome in 1960 — the beginning of a journey that would see him become known throughout the world as The Greatest.
What's My Name is a portrait of more than sporting greatness. It is a celebration of identity, resistance and a man who refused to let the world decide who he should be.
Enquire about this work→
4ft x 4ft (122 × 122 cm)
Original Decollage on Cradled Wood Panel (7.5 cm)
Yellow Neon Crown
Resin Finish with 24 Carat Gold Leaf
Muhammad Ali GOAT Series
Muhammad Ali was more than a boxer. He was a cultural force who challenged authority, confronted racial injustice and redefined what it meant to be a champion. His influence extended far beyond the boxing ring, making him one of the most recognisable and influential figures of the twentieth century.
The title What's My Name references Ali's refusal to be defined by the name Cassius Clay, and his demand to be recognised on his own terms. It became a statement of identity, defiance and self-determination, most famously during his 1967 fight against Ernie Terrell.
Constructed through layers of torn boxing posters, newspaper clippings, graffiti and halftone imagery, the artwork forms a fragmented visual biography of Ali's life and career. References to the Rumble in the Jungle, Thrilla in Manila and his 1960 Olympic triumph in Rome sit among fragments of the visual culture that shaped his legend.
Rooki's trademark dripping crown sits around Ali's eye, illuminated in yellow neon. In graffiti culture, a crown marks respect, given by impact, not position. Here, it represents a man whose greatness was earned not only through his achievements in the ring, but through his courage and conviction outside it.
The weathered and decayed surface reflects the advertising boards found throughout the streets of Manchester, where layers of posters have been built up, torn back and exposed to the elements over time. The resin preserves the history beneath it, allowing the scars, fragments and textures of the original surface to break through.
Details of 24ct gold leaf reference the Olympic gold medal Ali won in Rome in 1960 — the beginning of a journey that would see him become known throughout the world as The Greatest.
What's My Name is a portrait of more than sporting greatness. It is a celebration of identity, resistance and a man who refused to let the world decide who he should be.
Enquire about this work→
Image 1 of 11
Image 2 of 11
Image 3 of 11
Image 4 of 11
Image 5 of 11
Image 6 of 11
Image 7 of 11
Image 8 of 11
Image 9 of 11
Image 10 of 11
Image 11 of 11