"Looking To The Future"	"Legacy"

Simon's newest paintings depict cherished American icons Muhammad Ali and Barack Obama in double portraits that challenge us to consider the two men’s relationship, their roles as extraordinary leaders, and the great affection the American people hold for them both. The paintings were commissioned by the Muhammad Ali Center and donated by Ira Shore, President and C.E.O. of Fine Art Management Corporation, as gifts to the new president on the occasion of his inauguration. Read More...

Looking to the Future focuses on the two men’s faces, both seen in three-quarters view. The bold monumentality of the canvas recalls the immense heads carved into the living stone of Mount Rushmore. But the earnest cast of Obama’s face and the sweet expression of Ali’s contrast markedly with the stern Rushmore visages.

Legacy juxtaposes a close-up of Obama with a view of Ali as boxer, gazing down at a fallen opponent. We remember that both men have struggled—however different the nature of their many combatants--and that both have emerged victorious. The painting reminds us that, as Matthew Sayed asserted January 14 in the London Times, “Barack Obama owes a debt to Muhammad Ali’s fighting spirit.”

Muhammad Ali and his wife Lonnie look on as Ashley Judd and Simon unveil his newest paintings at the inaugural Bluegrass Ball Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, in Washington.  Click here to read the full Associated Press story.

The two American heroes are portrayed with the radiant color and scintillating surfaces that characterize so much of Simon’s work. Although based on photographic realism, the portraits transcend mere illustration. The dynamic brushstrokes and expressive verve animate the compositions, lending them a vitality that mechanically produced images can never obtain. And this vitality is what communicates the depth of Bull’s subjects: we recognize two men of profound commitment, admirable character, and great historical import.

One of the greatest gifts of art is its capacity to make us pause, look deeply, and see anew. Simon accomplishes precisely that in his two new paintings. As the artist says, “When people look at my art, I want them to see their world in a way that enriches their understanding of themselves and their journey.”

For more information, contact Betty Ann Brown at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 626-823-5548. Art historian, critic, and curator, Brown is a professor at California State University, Northridge. She is founder and director of ART WRITE, which produces essays about art and artists for museum, galleries, and the press.