Art in Motion: Shaun Ellison’s Tennis Paintings Acquire an Original Work
ART FOR CHANGE is pleased to announce four new works on paper from artist Shaun Ellison. The pieces capture the drama of tennis, the beauty of nature, and the essence of place.
Inspired by Parisian masters and his firsthand experience of a French Open final, he blends athletic intensity with floral elegance, weaving figures and landmarks into compact, layered compositions. From the Eiffel Tower and sunflowers to the Brooklyn Bridge and tennis courts, Ellison’s work turns fleeting moments into interconnected, contemplative scenes.
As part of ART FOR CHANGE’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and meaningful giving, we will plant 10 trees for each artwork sold.
Ellison notes, “I am deeply invested in health, well-being, and sustainability. Air quality is important to me, as I am outdoors a lot. I also care about plant and animal life, and know that planting trees will help support biodiversity by providing habitats for different species. The more trees we have, the less likely soil erosion becomes; it is important to me that fruits and vegetables have the soil that they need.”
PREVIEW THE ORIGINALS BELOW
SHAUN ELLISON Coco in Tulips, French Open, 2025 Watercolor on paper 4 x 6 inches
Shaun Ellison depicts Coco Gauff reaching for a ball against a backdrop of flowers, reflecting the idea that two seemingly disparate things can coexist. The work balances challenge with softness and beauty, bridging the worlds of tennis and landscape painting.
SHAUN ELLISON Alcaraz and Sinner Conquer New York, 2025 Acrylic on paper 4 x 6 inches
In this work, Shaun Ellison weaves together elements of New York, pushing the limits of what can exist within a small format. By placing a bridge beside a tennis court, he invites viewers to reconsider each space, shifting perspective and perception. The arch of the Brooklyn Bridge becomes a pathway for the eye, opening the painting and guiding movement through the composition, turning familiar landmarks into a new, interconnected landscape.
SHAUN ELLISON Sinner & Alcaraz In Sunflowers, The French, 2025 Watercolor on paper 4 x 6 inches
Shaun Ellison captures the essence of Paris while evoking the drama of the French Open final. The work weaves together the French flag and the Eiffel Tower, while drawing inspiration from Parisian masters Monet and Van Gogh, both of whom explored the rich symbolism of sunflowers.
SHAUN ELLISON Cobolli & Brooksby Won Our Hearts, 2025 Acrylic on paper 4 x 6 inches
Shaun Ellison had the rare opportunity to witness the fifth and final set of this match in person. Through painting this moment, Ellison preserves not just the scene, but the emotional resonance of the match and its profound impact on him.
What began as a tool to process Shaun Ellison’s relationship to tennis has grown into a vibrant, evocative practice that captures the spontaneity and frailty of groups, success, and failure in sport. Born in South Africa and based in Brooklyn, New York, the artist brings unity to the inherent contradictions of tennis and its history. Within his works, color, expressive composition, and unexpected figures become means by which he comments on the diversity, rigor, and growth of sport and its cultural legacy.
