Olympic Art by BIPOC Artists

By Alexis Shoats

The Olympic Games is the time for our nations to showcase the best athletes from our countries, compete in healthy competition, and celebrate culture and diversity. It is simultaneously used as a way to encourage peace, education, and equality around the world. Although we have a long way to go to achieve these goals, the intersection between art and Olympism continues to serve as a way for artists to celebrate, educate, and inspire. We’ve provided a list of a few artists and their pieces that have captured each of these. 

Henry Taylor 

Name of painting: See Alice Jump, a painting of Alice Coachman training at Tuskegee University before competing in the 1984 Olympics.

Alice Coachman was born and raised in Albany Georgia, and is the first Black woman to win a gold medal at the Olympics. She was also the only American woman to win a gold medal at the 1948 Olympics. She competed in the Track and Field high jump competition. 

The picture is from the Whitney Museum

Frank Romero

Name of painting: Going to the 1984 Olympics. Originally, it was a painting that also became a mural between the Hollywood Freeway (101) North between Alameda and San Pedro St. 

Romero was a leader of Chicano Art through the Los Four Chicano group. The group played a pivotal role in the Chicano Movement throughout Los Angeles. In 1984 the Olympic Organizing Committee commissioned Romero for a mural in which he blended Chicano, Latin, and American cultures. It also highlights the car culture that is most notable in Southern California. 

Picture of the original painting is from La Plaza de Cultura y Artes

Alison Saar

Name of installation: Salon. The installation is named after American poet Gertrude Stein’s home which was often called a salon because she hosted writers, artists, and various intellectuals on Saturday evenings. Stein would mentor young writers and facilitate introductions amongst the group. 

View on the Olympic Museum site.

Alison Saar's art explores gender, race, identity, spirituality, and religion from various marginalized communities such as the African diaspora and indigenous communities. Saar explores these themes through installations, prints, and sculptures. 

In this specific installation for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Saar explores Stein’s theme of community, friendship, and the spirit of solidarity. In many of her other pieces, Saar incorporates pieces from the surrounding community in her art. For the Olympics, she included various pieces from participating countries to create this salon for peace and harmony. In addition to the seats to create the salon circle, she placed a sculpture of a black woman in the center holding the Olympic flame. In an interview with France 24 Saar states, “I kind of wanted to create a place for people outside of these other white male figures to feel like they’re being represented.”

Ye Qiaobo 

Name of Pieces: Plum Blossoms and Bamboo, view on the Olympic Museum site.

Triple Olympic medalist turned artist, Ye Qiaobo’s work highlights Chinese culture and traditions to inspire the next generation of Olympians to persevere over the odds and challenges of the sport and life. As a former Olympian, in an interview for the Olympic Museum's official website, Qiaobo stated, “Sharing my experiences with young people, to inspire them is more meaningful than the medals and trophies I gained in competition.”  

Poulomi Basu 

Name of Project: Champions of Tomorrow, view on the Olympic Museum site.

Artist Poulomi Basu is a neurodiverse Indian photographer and activist who centers her work around the intersectionality between race, politics, and the cultural impact on women in the global south. Before the 2024 Olympics, the committee commissioned Basu for a project that centered on girls and the role sports and Olympics values and dreams had on them.