The Swedish Iceman cometh to brighten up a pair of historic kicks for a good cause.
In celebration of the recent launch of Kicks on Court, a new digital exhibit about the history of tennis shoes, the International Tennis Hall of Fame is auctioning off a pair of one-of-a-kind, hand-painted sneakers featuring art inspired by Hall of Famer Björn Borg.
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Proceeds of the auction will support the Hall of Fame’s programs and services to preserve and promote tennis history and inspire future generations.
Utilizing a pair of Fila Original Tennis LX men’s sneakers as his canvas, sneaker artist Paul Lempa developed a work of art that features a replica of Borg’s autograph and a finely detailed portrait of the 11-time major champion, along with artistic nods to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The shoes are hand-painted and are one-of-a-kind.
The Borg sneaker auction is live now through May 13th, visit the auction here.
Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987, Borg won five straight Wimbledon titles from 1976 through 1980, as well as six Roland-Garros titles between 1974 and 1981. Topping off his history book results, the former world No. 1 also left a legacy in the sport as a style icon who wore Fila apparel on court.
Paul Lempa is an award-winning artist from New Jersey who specializes in painting as a means of celebrating the beauty and grace of athletes and sport. He frequently uses athletic shoes as a canvas. In recent years, his art has been featured in national publications, on Topps baseball cards, and in the National Art Museum of Sport. He was named one of the “Top-12 Artists to Collect” by Beckett Sports Card Monthly.
Photo credit: International Tennis Hall of Fame