Shaun Ellison, Kecmanovic vs Gasquet, Courtside US Open, 2023; Original Painting

What began as a tool to process South African artist Shaun Ellison’s relationship to the sport of tennis has grown into a vibrant, evocative practice that captures the spontaneity and fragility of groups, success and failure in sport. Based in Brooklyn, New York, the artist brings unity to many of the inherent contradictions of tennis and its history, and uses color, expressive composition, and unexpected figures and motifs to touch on the diversity, rigor and growth of the sport and its cultural legacy. Ellison studied at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, School of Visual Arts and NY Studio School. While at Louisiana Lafayette, the artist played for the school’s Division 1 tennis team before competing professionally on the ATP Tour. Recent exhibitions include Hit & Miss at Taymour Grahne Projects (London, UK).

Kecmanovic vs Gasquet Courtside US Open is a new painting depicting the 2022 second round upset between Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic and France’s Richard Gasquet. Played on Court 10, we see Ellison’s plein air perspective—another eye in the crowd. A crowd waits in the arch underneath the bleachers between points. A minor satellite court with all of the fixings of a grandstand–corporate logos, stadium lights, wire fence. It is midday and the September sun clearly shines directly overhead as the rally begins and we watch the beginnings of a story through Ellison’s eyes against the blue sky and bristling trees that are beginning to darken for fall.

Shaun Ellison
Kecmanovic vs Gasquet Courtside US Open, 2023
11 x 14 inches
Acrylic on mixed media paper

Of this series benefitting reforestation efforts, he notes, “Reforestation is a critical issue and I’m proud to play any role that I can in protecting the environment. I am excited to collaborate with ART FOR CHANGE on this front and knowing that the personal can continue to catalyze change.”

ART FOR CHANGE will plant ten trees for each print sold to support reforestation efforts. As in all series, artists will receive 50% of the net proceeds of print sales.

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