In 1966, LIFE Magazine assigned famed photographer Gordon Parks to cover Muhammad Ali, the brash young boxing champion. Four years later, in 1970, the two came together again for a second LIFE feature story. Go behind the scenes of this professional pairing during The Image of a Champion, 1966 1970, now on view at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
These encounters between Parks and Ali framed a critical passage in the career of the controversial heavyweight, whose antiwar and black separatist views had led to widespread vilification in the United States. They also marked a significant moment of transition for Parks, then following up his remarkable success in photojournalism with new projects as an author, filmmaker, and composer.
Despite their generational and ideological differences, Parks and Ali respected and admired one another. As celebrated figures, both men shared a common struggle as they faced prejudice and bigotry in their fight for social justice and civil rights in the public eye. Significantly, Parks and Ali well understood the power of the media to shape public opinion. Parks’ position at LIFE gave him a vast and influential platform, which he used to craft a sympathetic image of the controversial young champion.
The Muhammad Ali whom LIFE readers discovered through Parks’ photographs in 1966 and 1970—the athlete, private man, controversial figure of politics and religion, and cultural icon—was, it later emerged, standing at an important crossroads in his own inspiring evolution. Parks’ photographs capture this important early chapter in the life of the fighter we still call “the greatest of all time” as he confronted his challenges, inside and outside the ring.
Organized in collaboration with The Gordon Parks Foundation, The Image of a Champion, 1966 1970 features approximately 55 photographs, many never before published. This exhibition will be accompanied by the publication Gordon Parks X Muhammad Ali, published in collaboration with the Gordon Parks Foundation and printed by Steidl.
The Image of a Champion, 1966 1970 will be open to the public through July 5, 2020. Admission starts at $10 and is free for museum members. For additional information, please visit www.nelson-atkins.org or call 816-751-1278.
At The District Flats Apartments in Lenexa, Kansas, we encourage our residents to discover all the wonderful happenings in our city, whether it’d be a concert, exhibit, or convention. Set aside some time to attend this upcoming event in our area!
Event Time/Date:
Thursday, February 20, 2020—10:00 AM
Event Venue Location:
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
4525 Oak Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64111