This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 4/30/2009.
Stephen Holland has painted hundreds of sports paintings for commissions, lithographs, serigraphs and giclees. His talent and contribution to the field of art and sports received national recognition when the American Sport Art Museum and Archives awarded him the honor of 1993 Sports Artist of the Year. This is an original Stephen Holland painting from which the lithos, giclees, etc. are made. Oil on wood measuring 20” x 30”, it is an amazing rendition of Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant ostensibly at the foul line. Wearing a Lakers jersey with the number “8,” Kobe has the ball cupped in both hands, looking up at the net. Yellow band on his left bicep, muscles rippling, this painting captures the intense concentration of Bryant “in the zone.” The dark background forces the viewer to focus exclusively on Kobe, and brings him inside Kobe's head at that moment; nothing else exists except the task at hand. Holland has written in black marker on the back “Stephen Holland,” “Kobe” and ” 30” x 20”. The painting has been signed in gold in the upper left hand corner by Holland, also signed in silver on the upper right by Kobe Bryant. Painting is NRMT-MINT with signatures that grade a 9. Accompanied by a LOA from JSA.