The National Wrestling Hall of Fame is excited to announce that it will showcase works by acclaimed artist Nancy Ostrovsky at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on March 17-19 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The paintings will be displayed in exhibits on the sixth floor concourse and the eighth floor concourse during the three days of competition.

[caption id="attachment_12239" align="alignleft" width="150"] Nancy Ostrovsky[/caption]

“Each year at the NCAAs we strive to have an exhibit that not only highlights our great sport, but inspires fans,” said NWHOF Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. “We are fans of Nancy Ostrovsky, and having the NCAAs in New York City provided us with the perfect opportunity to share her work.”

Her collection of paintings features some of the most famous and recognized names in wrestling including NWHOF Distinguished Members Bruce Baumgartner, Bobby Douglas, Dan Gable, Gene Mills, Tricia Saunders, Dave Schultz, John Smith, and Pat Smith.

[caption id="attachment_12240" align="alignright" width="150"] Gene Mills[/caption]

“I am honored to exhibit my paintings for the wrestling community,” said Ostrovsky, whose preferred footwear while working is typically wrestling shoes. “I did my first wrestling painting in 1992 and there is now a wide-ranging body of work.”

Ostrovsky has collaborated for 25 years with former wrestler Paul Widerman to create a series of paintings featuring wrestling. Widerman was a two-time New York state wrestling champion and co-captain at Harvard University who after competing internationally returned as an assistant coach at Harvard. Utilizing information on wrestlers and techniques provided by Widerman, Ostrovsky has displayed an incredible ability to interpret the energy, imagery and emotion of the sport.

[caption id="attachment_12241" align="alignleft" width="150"] Pat Smith[/caption]

“Mostly, I have drawn and painted the human form with a focus on music and jazz. There is a beauty and honesty in wrestling and jazz that I try to capture,” said Ostrovsky. “The common denominator is human beings.”

Born in North Africa and raised in various countries in Asia, Ostrovsky has exhibited in Germany, New York, Boston and California. She has been called “one of the pioneers of performance painting,” and for more than 36 years has done “Painting to Music,” a live performance with musicians. Ostrovsky creates highly original and innovative works using the immediacy of the musicians combined with the music and the environment of a live audience.

[caption id="attachment_12242" align="alignright" width="150"] Wrestling Shoes are perfect for painting[/caption]

“Perhaps my experience with Painting to Music has helped me to better understand, and capture, the intensity and focus it takes to be a wrestler,” said Ostrovsky.

Some of Ostrovsky’s wrestling paintings can be viewed and reproductions are available for purchase at www.theartofwrestling.com.