Ali/Warhol for Supreme (1)(1 of 9)
1 of 9
04/19/2016

Ali/Warhol for Supreme

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in 1942, is a two-time Heavyweight champion boxer considered to be one of the greatest in the history of the sport. Outside of the ring, Ali was a champion of religious freedom, racial justice, and was a fierce opponent of the Vietnam War. Because of his refusal to fight in Vietnam, Ali was stripped of his passport, as well as his heavyweight title and banned from fighting in the US. Ali’s brash approach and penchant for controversy in boxing and activism made him one of the period’s most famous public figures.

From the late 1950s until his death in 1987, Andy Warhol took polaroid portraits of the famous characters he encountered. On August 16, 1977, Andy Warhol photographed Muhammad Ali as part of his ‘Athlete’ polaroid series. “I only met Muhammad Ali once but I’ll never forget it,” Warhol said. While Ali was always animated, the image Warhol captured was a rare moment of pensiveness.

This spring, Supreme has worked with Muhammad Ali and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts on a Hooded Sweatshirt and a short sleeve T-Shirt. The group will be available along with four new graphic T-Shirts.

Available in-store NY, LA, London, Paris and online April 21st.

Available in Japan on April 23rd.

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