Get Into the Olympic Spirit With These Sports-Inspired Artworks from the Artnet Gallery Network

We've rounded up a dynamic selection of artworks that capture the Olympic spirit.

Harry Gruyaert, Untitled (1972). Courtesy of Gallery Fifty One, Antwerp.

Though it may be hard to believe, we have officially entered the final week of the 2024 Summer Olympics. Opened on June 26, the international sporting event officially concludes August 11, 2024.

Sports and athletics have long been a potent source of inspiration, dating all the way back to the Ancient Games when Classical Greek artists carved idealized monuments of athletes. Today, much like the events of the games, the influences of sports can be seen across myriad contemporary mediums by artists from around the world. Below, we’ve gathered a selection of works that perfectly evoke the themes and motifs of all things sportsmanship and athletics going—well after this year’s Olympics have ended.

And this is just a small sampling of what can be found on the Artnet Gallery Network, where you can easily discover what galleries from around the world have to offer from your own computer or device.

Harry Gruyaert, Untitled (1972)

A screengrab from a 1970s tube tv of a sailing race taking place at the Olympics of 1972.

Harry Gruyaert, Untitled (1972). Courtesy of Gallery Fifty One, Antwerp.

Paolo Costa, Giro d’Italia – Fausto Coppi (1952)

A black and white photo of cyclists at the Olympics with reporters running alongside them.

Paolo Costa, Giro d’Italia – Fausto Coppi (1952). Courtesy of Noir Blanche, Düsseldrof.

Frederick B. Serger,  Young Boxer (n.d.)

Half portrait painting of a young man wearing a white tank top standing in a boxing position looking out to the viewer agains a bright blue background.

Frederick B. Serger,  Young Boxer (n.d.). Courtesy of Kunstberatung Zürich.

Olaf Heine, Laird Hamilton (Bamboo) (2018)

Black and white portrait of Olympics medalist Laird Hamilton wearing swim trunks and holding a surfboard standing in front of a copse of bamboo trees.

Olaf Heine, Laird Hamilton (Bamboo) (2018). Courtesy of Camera Work, Berlin.

Christopher Thomas, Bittersweet (2015)

A photo of a grassy field lined by trees and low hanging fog with two metal soccer goals without their nets.

Christopher Thomas, Bittersweet (2015). Courtesy of Ira Stehmann Fine Art, Munich.

Kenton Nelson, Home Court (2021)

A photorealistic painting of half a vintage badminton racket behind which you can see two cypress tress and the top portion of a house and a blue sky.

Kenton Nelson, Home Court (2021). Courtesy of Galerie Ruzicska, Salzburg.

Michael von Hessel, Olympiastadion E Berlin (2018)

A fisheye photograph of an Olympics soccer stadium in Berlin.

Michael von Hessel, Olympiastadion E Berlin (2018). Courtesy of Anna Laudel, Istanbul / Düsseldorf / Bodrum.

Katharina Brandl, Everlast (2012)

A black and white punching bag hanging on a frame.

Katharina Brandl, Everlast (2012). Courtesy of Forum Presents, Linz.

Paolo Canevari, Olympic Circles (2000)

The five rings from the Olympics logo but all in black and assembled like chainmail.

Paolo Canevari, Olympic Circles (2000). Courtesy of Cardi Gallery, Milan.

David Hockney, Olympic Pool (1970)

Image of a stylized figure diving into abstracted Olympics pool water of various shades of geometric blue.

David Hockney, Olympic Pool (1970). Courtesy of Maddox Gallery, London / Gstaad.

Walter Iooss Jr., Cloud Diver, Boca Raton, FL (1990)

A diver at the Olympics at a high dive platform silhouetted against a large formation of white fluffy clouds and blue sky.

Walter Iooss Jr., Cloud Diver, Boca Raton, FL (1990). Courtesy of Bruce Silverstein, New York.

Jacob Lawrence, Olympische Spiele Muenchen (The Runners) (1972)

Abstracted and distorted painting of five runners at the Olympics.

Jacob Lawrence, Olympische Spiele Muenchen (The Runners) (1972). Courtesy of RoGallery, Long Island City.

Explore these artworks and more with the Artnet Gallery Network.