"Fierce," which will open at the White Room Gallery in East Hampton on Tuesday and continue through Aug. 30, features paintings by Ted Dimond, whose subject, according to his website, is "the power and precision of athletes in motion." While he has painted golfers, football players, basketball players, and competitors in just about every other sport, "Fierce" is focused on his portraits of tennis icons, captured in the heat of battle.
A highlight will be the opening reception, set for next Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m., where a tennis pro, not identified in advance, will be at the gallery to unveil Dimond's portrait of him, meet fans, sign autographs, and share stories.
"We used to represent Ted years ago when we were in Bridgehampton," said Andrea McCafferty, co-director of the gallery. "We hadn't seen him in a few years, and I ran into him in town and we started talking. I knew he was a tennis pro, so we came up with the concept of doing something in August at the time of the U.S. Open. There are lots of pros coming here to practice, so the idea of having one do the unveiling made sense."
In addition to being a former professional tennis player and coach, Dimond is a lifelong student of the game and brings a unique perspective to his work, according the gallery. He combines traditional oil painting with layers of clear polymer, creating a sense of movement, depth, and energy that captures the intensity of competition.
"Every tennis fan remembers where they were when certain moments happened," said Dimond. "McEnroe's outburst. Ashe breaking barriers. Connors fighting until the last point. Vitas delivering one of the greatest lines in sports history. These paintings aren't just about tennis –- they're about memories. They remind us why we fell in love with the game in the first place."
The exhibition will feature portraits of such champions as Arthur Ashe, Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams, as well as the game's new generation of stars, including Coco Gauff, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Joao Fonseca.
Also on view in the rear gallery will be work by John Joseph Hanright, Bob Tabor, Steve Moors, The Guys With the Same Name, Punk Me Tender, Cabell Molina, and Rachel Paxton.
