Alright, fight fans, “It’s time!” to get some…culture.
Just like in the Ancient Olympic Games in Greece and the Modern Summer Olympics from 1924 to 1948, which held not only athletic contests but also art competitions, artists whose works feature athletes truly complete humanity’s appreciation and promotion of sports.
In MMA, we are fortunate to have someone like Brad Utterstrom, who has dedicated his art to portraying mainly portraits of our renowned fighters—recent past and present. Yours truly is privileged to correspond with the artist and receive from him the links to his 11 personal favorites along with his personal thoughts on each piece.
Utterstrom is an alumnus of Western Oregon University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Art in 2002. In his own words, “During my final year at WOU, I did my first MMA related painting…a red, yellow, and blue acrylic of Randy ‘The Natural’ Couture. Since then, almost all of my artwork has been MMA related.”*
Enjoy this slideshow of samplings of the painter’s works: 11 portraits treated in different mediums and styles of artistic expression, with a sprinkling of thoughts from the artist on his creations as shared to this writer.
I also included brief backgrounds on each subject.
Yes, Mr. James Ladner, there’s inspiring and edifying beauty in the combat sport of MMA.
The artist will truly appreciate it if you will write down your favorite piece on the comments thread below.
Thank you very much.
*From the artist’s website.
The writer spent his college years in the 1990s studying Painting and Art Education at the University of the Philippines.