CHAMP. Ali by Hoepker
ONLINE EXHIBITION
Atlas Gallery is proud to present an online exhibition of intimate photographs of Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest sporting icons of our time, captured by renowned German photographer Thomas Hoepker.
Hoepker first met Ali in 1960, photographing the young boxer’s victory in the light heavyweight division at the Rome Olympics. Their paths crossed again in 1966 when Hoepker was assigned to document Ali in London ahead of his fight against Brian London. That year, Hoepker had exclusive access to Ali, following him for several weeks and photographing him in London, Chicago, and later in Miami. Hoepker was fascinated by Ali’s ever-changing personality, his wit, and his vivid intelligence.
These encounters marked the beginning of a lasting relationship, allowing Hoepker to capture some of the most pivotal and personal moments of Ali’s life—from career-defining triumphs in the ring to quiet, everyday interactions, including a romantic moment with his future wife in a donut shop.
Featuring carefully selected photographs from Hoepker’s personal archive, this exhibition offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the many facets of a sporting great, seen through the lens of a master photographer. In these compelling portraits of the young champion, Hoepker and Ali collide in a striking depiction of what it truly means to be ‘The Greatest.’
Born in Germany in 1936, Thomas Hoepker joined Magnum Photos in 1964 and became a full member in 1989. He served as president of Magnum Photos from 2003 to 2006. In 2007, a major retrospective exhibition of his work—showcasing 230 photographs from a career spanning fifty years—toured Germany and other parts of Europe. Atlas Gallery has been privileged to work with Thomas Hoepker during his lifetime and continues to collaborate closely with his estate and archive, promoting his incredible and varied collection.
Ali Fist Sequence, Chicago, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali Right Fist, Chicago, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali Right Fist, Chicago Skyline, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali Right Fist, Chicago Skyline, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali Eating Ice Cream After the Fight Against Brian London, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali Flirts with His Future Wife Belinda Boyd in a Bakery, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali in a Fight Against Brian London, London, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Ali Praying in the Ring, London, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali in Downtown Chicago, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali Training in the Gym, Chicago, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali in the Gym, Chicago, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali, boxing world heavy weight champion with Johnny Coulon, the world bantam weight champion of 1910, in his Chicago Gym, Chicago, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali in London Gym, London, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali in a Barber Shop on Chicago’s South Side, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali Doing Sit Ups, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali in a Photo Studio, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali Admiring Himself in a Car Mirror, Chicago, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Ali with a Leica Camera in Downtown Chicago, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Ali Left Fist (color), Miami, 1970
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali Walking in Chicago, Chicago, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali Looking in the Mirror at a Barbershop, Chicago, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Ali in a Phone Booth in Chicago, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Ali with Children in Southside Chicago, Chicago, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali Punching Ball, Chicago, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Muhammad Ali in His Hotel Room Before a Title Fight, London, 1966
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Portfolio box of 12 collector’s prints, 20×24” (50,8x61cm), silver-halide / Baryt prints from the Magnum darkroom in New York. Limited edition of 10 portfolios. Each print is signed and numbered by the photographer.
© Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos