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Muhammad Ali's Legacy Celebrated at New Bed-Stuy Exhibition

By Camille Bautista | October 26, 2016 11:56am
 Artist Leroy Campbell will showcase his work paying tribute to boxer Muhammad Ali's legacy in a new exhibition called
Artist Leroy Campbell will showcase his work paying tribute to boxer Muhammad Ali's legacy in a new exhibition called "The Fight Continues..." in Bed-Stuy.
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Leroy Campbell

BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — The fighting spirit of iconic boxing great Muhammad Ali will be honored at a new exhibition in Brooklyn next month.

“The Fight Continues...,” being showcased at Bedford-Stuyvesant’s Richard Beavers Gallery in November, pays tribute to the late American hero, according to the gallery’s owner and director.

“His spirit was so much larger than him as an athlete,” said Richard Beavers.

“He used his platform to speak out against injustice and he was unapologetically black and not afraid of the retribution he would receive for being so outspoken and controversial.”

Beavers will display more than a dozen mixed-media pieces from artist Leroy Campbell at the 408 Marcus Garvey Blvd. gallery, with works influenced by the boxer and reflecting “people of color in their communities and the issues that we have to deal with on a daily basis,” he said.

Ali, who died in June this year aged 74, was known outside the ring for his political activism and involvement in the civil rights movement.

“It is in our natural spirit to be willing and ready to contribute to the greater good of humanity. Our souls are interconnected and we feel each other’s pain whether we ignore it or not,” Campbell said in a statement.

“This is why we have to fight this battle together. When we combine our spiritual powers, only then will God’s force help us. Until then, the fight continues.”

Campbell’s original artwork includes collages of newspaper clippings with quotes from Ali, along with those from social activists, Beavers added.

The exhibition, which debuts on Nov. 5, coincides with the gallery’s nine-year anniversary in the neighborhood.

Established in 2007, the contemporary art gallery near Halsey Street looks to be a cultural institution for the neighborhood, Beavers said.

“I wanted to bring art to a community that I call home, that was underserved when it came to the arts,” he continued.

“I wanted people to see art as reflected and inspired by everyday life and things that we see in an urban environment so that the work would be relatable.”

The Ali tribute debuts with a free opening night event on Nov. 5 from 6 to 9 p.m., followed by an artist discussion with Campbell on Nov. 6 from 2 to 5 p.m.

“The Fight Continues...” will be on display at the gallery through Dec. 10.