Gregory BURNS (USA)

Olympian Artist – Painting: PyeongChang 2018, Tokyo 2020

Gregory Burns is an abstract painter who approaches his canvases with the same passion he had while setting four world records in swimming during three Paralympic Games.

In 1984, Gregory Burns studied Chinese brush painting and calligraphy with local masters in Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) and China. Afterwards, armed with some paintbrushes and broken Mandarin, he backpacked alone for 16 months through China, Nepal, India and Pakistan.

With a master’s degree in fine art and 30 years’ experience in painting, Gregory has exhibited his work in 80 exhibitions and was awarded the Sports Artist of the Year Award in 2016. Gregory uses a wide range of colours, cultures and imagery in his work, which portray the power of the human spirit. His impressive sports resume includes three Paralympic Games: Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.

ARTISTIC PROJECT

ATHLETE'S JOURNEY

The life of the athlete is fraught with ups and downs. On their journey, the athlete builds, climbs, struggles and discovers. Once the feat has been accomplished, the athlete returns home to share the knowledge and victory with their community. “The Athlete’s Journey” represents a repeating cycle of life that moves us forward. This artwork illustrates the complex “journey” of the athlete that includes hitting a “wall”, navigating through challenges and continuing on to victory, all of which is anchored by references to Japan. © 2021 – Gregory Burns

VICTORY

Victory always results in self-respect and confidence. Standing on the podium, having accomplished what we set out to do… that is the icing on the cake. It is the external reflection and acknowledgment of the satisfaction that comes from achieving a victory over ourselves. “Victory” is far more than a medal – it is the distillation of all our effort and passion embodied in a feeling that lasts a lifetime. This artwork juxtaposes the “venue”, where sporting competition takes place, with the “podium”, where winners receive acknowledgment. © 2021 – Gregory Burns

LIFT

Each of us inherits challenges we need to face. These can hold us down or they can build us up. Olympism supports each athlete’s efforts to rise above and go beyond. When we do the work and we “lift” others up, along with ourselves, we make the world a better place. This artwork depicts athletes lifting themselves or heavy weights in order to achieve personal success against a backdrop of traditional Japanese architecture. © 2021 – Gregory Burns

FOCUS

In sport, all our sacrifices are focused on the target, on the goal we have set for ourselves. Like a laser beam, which concentrates everything on a single point, Olympians and Paralympians fine-tune themselves in order to achieve something beyond themselves. We take aim and overcome obstacles in our efforts to be our best. “Focus” delivers the formula to our success. This artwork combines two sports that require laser “focus” in order to achieve success. © 2021 – Gregory Burns

STRETCH

When stretching to reach our goals, we gain strength. Life is not a single match but a long journey with many wins and losses. We grow by learning from our mistakes. Throughout our lives, we yearn for that perfect moment when body and mind coalesce. With each new “stretch”, we inch one step closer to actualising our full potential. This artwork presents the tennis player at full “stretch”, reaching for the ball – and for excellence. © 2021 – Gregory Burns

RACE

Life is a race. Everyone faces challenges, and we all experience the two extremes of joy and sorrow. But the race unites us. We battle to be the best. But during the race, we are all alone with ourselves and our thoughts. We “race” not just to win, but to live the best version of ourselves. This artwork combines the hurdles and track competitions dashing across a landscape that references traditional Japanese architecture. © 2021 – Gregory Burns

Questions and answers

What does being an Olympian or Paralympian mean to you personally? How does it define your approach to life and how you view yourself and the world?

Being an Olympian or Paralympian means holding oneself to a higher standard. Having competed and communicated with the best, one continues to strive for something beyond what is expected.

When we talk about “Olympic culture”, what does that mean to you? How do you explain to people that the Olympic Games are more than just a sports competition?

Being an Olympian or Paralympian encompasses far more than sport. It’s not just about winning medals, but rather doing our best and being responsible for our actions.

If you could go back in time and give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Never walk while looking down at your iPhone. Be grateful and excited about all the small milestones you have achieved. Life is not one big leap but countless small steps that add up to a marathon.

Are there parallels in your approach to your art and your approach to your sport? Or do you find that the two dimensions bring/brought out totally different sides of your personality?

Art and sport are deeply connected. They both require robust mental, physical, and spiritual training. They both tap into the passion and sense of awe and wonder we feel when we arrive at an exciting place we’ve never been to before. I now pour the energy and passion I once reserved for sport into my paintings.

Is there anything else you’d like to say about yourself or your passions?

Art and sport require concerted effort and daily commitment. It doesn’t mean you paint or train every day. But it does mean that you are continually fine-tuning yourself and your abilities so that, at some point, you might actually do something astounding.