Rowdy Gaines expressed his admiration for Brian Fox’s ability to portray Michael Phelps’ athletic prowess. “These pictures literally capture the emotion I felt when I was radiating them. It’s the position of his hands while swimming. If you take the photo of the backstroke, it’s literally perfect, down to the movement of where he places his hands. You can feel him actually breathing and why. And in the butterfly photos, every muscle is perfectly defined. It’s literally like you can feel them. That’s real life. That’s what happens in the pool.”
Fox has meticulously captured Michael Phelps’ historic Olympic journey in the Golden Eight collection. Each of these eight paintings, signed by Phelps himself, commemorates the legendary feat of winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The collection was commissioned by the current owner following Phelps’ success in 2008. Now, for the first time ever, these paintings are available for private sale.
Image by Brian Fox
This moment is considered the second greatest American sporting achievement of all time, surpassed only by the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” event, which Fox depicted in one of his earliest works. The unique painting “Miracle on Ice” captures the historic moment when the young American Olympic hockey team shocked the world by defeating the heavily favored Soviet team in 1980.
According to ESPN, Phelps is the greatest athlete of the 21st century. His illustrious career has earned him a place above other exceptional athletes such as Serena Williams, Lionel Messi, LeBron James, Tom Brady and Simone Biles. Phelps has won 23 gold medals in his career and his legacy extends far beyond these tangible achievements. In 2016, Phelps was the flag bearer for the U.S. team and is rumored to be the leading candidate to light the torch at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, just as Muhammad Ali did in Atlanta in 1996. These incredible honors speak to Phelps’ timeless impact on American sports.
Image by Brian Fox
The Golden Eight collection pays homage to Phelps’ extraordinary, record-breaking eight gold medals he won in a single Olympics, which Gaines says “will never be repeated.” The paintings capture a moment in time and immortalize Phelps’ determination, skill and tireless pursuit.
“Fox has captured not only Phelps’ essence in these paintings, but also his unforgettable legacy that will last for generations,” says Todd Patkin, owner of this remarkable collection. “These paintings are not just portraits; they serve as a powerful reminder of one of the greatest moments in our sports history.”
This is a rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own these stunning masterpieces that vividly capture iconic moments in American history. Priced at $150,000 per painting, owning the complete or partial collection is not only an investment in art, but in heritage. Each signature comes with its own certificate of authenticity, guaranteeing unparalleled value and provenance, and 30 percent of the sale proceeds will go to charity. For more information or inquiries about acquiring these artworks, please contact [email protected].
