Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali: Celebrating His Visit to Govinda Gallery
Today is Muhammad Ali‘s birthday. Muhammad spent two days at Govinda Gallery 30 years ago on September 21 and 22, 1995. We were celebrating Govinda Gallery’s 20th anniversary with an exhibition of Howard Bingham‘s photographs, Muhammad Ali’s best friend and collaborator. Enjoy these photographs of Ali at Govinda Gallery!
Govinda Gallery Director, Chris Murray introducing his son, David Murray to Muhammad Ali. 30 years later, David Murray is now the Administrative Director of Govinda Gallery. This moment is one of the greatest highlights from my 50 years at Govinda Gallery.
© Govinda Gallery Archive
Muhammad Ali was a terrific magician. Here he is entertaining the Govinda Girls by levitating. It is easy to see in this photograph how everyone loved Muhammad. Sitting at the table is Howard Bingham, ready to sign his book Muhammad Ali: A Thirty-Year Journey.
© Govinda Gallery Archive
Govinda Gallery artist, Carlotta Hester, meeting Muhammad Ali.
© Chester Simpson
Carlotta Hester kissing Muhammad Ali.
© Chester Simpson
Carlotta’s kiss knocked out Ali! Howard Bingham is delighted.
© Chester Simpson
Govinda Gallery Director, Chris Murray, helping Muhammad Ali with his jacket before leaving for dinner together.
© Govinda Gallery Archive
Govinda Gallery advertisement in the Washington Review of the Arts, signed by Muhammad Ali and Howard Bingham.
It was a great honor for me to be invited to Muhammad Ali’s funeral in Louisville, Kentucky in 2016. I was humbled to be asked to sit with Ali’s family. It was also an incredible weekend to be invited to the launch of The Great Ones, the Kennedy Center’s tribute to Muhammad Ali, Arnold Palmer, Ted Williams, Wilma Rudolph, and Kareem Abdul-Jabar in 1993. Below are links to the original blogs featuring the White House and Kennedy Center tributes, which include images of photographer Greg Gorman, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Anthony Shriver, David Murray, Joe Fraizer, Alonzo Mourning, Bruce Hornsby, and Dikembe Mutombo. Also included are photos of Ali from Govinda Gallery exhibitions featuring the photographers Harry Benson, Ken Regan, Annie Liebovitz, and William Coupon.
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