If you are a Bostonian, you love Boston sports. It’s as simple as that.
From our five-time Super Bowl winning New England Patriots to the three-time World Series championship Red Sox (did we mention they have clinched first place in the American League East?), it’s easy to see why we refer to our great city as “title town.” For all of the die-hard sports fans out there, we found one of the best (and most fun) ways to display your love for one of these great teams is with a creative piece of wall art (or apparel) from I Love Boston Sports.
Designed for anyone who appreciates quality art with a passion for Boston sports, their prints bring sarcasm, wit and history to life. Our favorite ode to last year’s historic comeback featuring our Super Bowl champs, The Last Laugh, shows the Patriots team enjoying a laugh (and a beer) while NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell uncomfortably cowers in the corner.
Photo Credit: I Love Boston Sports
The creative genius behind the brand, Mahlon Williams, takes Boston sports legends and combines them with historic and pop culture moments to create limited edition pieces. One of their most popular pieces is one that pays homage to George Washington sailing the Potomac River, but with Coach Bill Belichick and his team Crossing the Charles. Williams wanted to display our patriotic team, who “broke the ice and led the charge which resulted in a decade of domination.”
Photo Credit: I Love Boston Sports
In 2013, the brand got its lucky break when it was picked up by Sports Authority and they were offered a national deal, which put them on the retail map before the stores shuttered last year. Today, I Love Boston Sports has four successful gallery locations throughout Massachusetts, including the South Shore Plaza in Braintree, Square One Mall in Saugus and Boston’s Faneuil Hall Marketplace and the Prudential Center.
Photo Credit: I Love Boston Sports
Photo Credit: I Love Boston Sports
Photo Credit: I Love Boston SportsWhat was the inspiration behind the brand’s idea of combining sports figures with historic moments?
My background is in finance and I grew up in North Carolina. We didn’t have a sports team at the time and I was a big Michael Jordan fan. I have been an entrepreneur my whole life. My friend submitted my name to a reality show and I sent in a tape and ended up winning (he was Spike TV’s “Pro’s vs Joes” winner on Season 2, Episode 7). That friend convinced me to start a T-shirt company. It was a great opportunity for me because I majored in economics and theater, coupled with the fact that I have a near photographic memory, it was a great fit. I learned how to execute on the ideas so the possibilities are limitless. The stuff we do is unlike anything done nationally. There is a lot of subtle humor buried. Each picture is deeper than what you first see if you really take a closer look. We hold the themes of each piece close to our chest and use it as an opportunity to share that.
How long does it take you to make one creation?
We always have three to four pieces in the works, but it takes about 15 to 18 months to complete. You have to put it down, give your eyes a rest and look at it later. There is always pressure to top the last one. The Last Supper is my favorite. It took about four years to finish. Every version had to be scrapped because it wasn’t coming together the way I wanted it to.
What is your most popular piece?
Crossing the Charles is my most successful piece ever, which we did a couple of years ago.
What did Bill Belichick think of Crossing the Charles?
Usually, we make a creation and send it to whoever is in the picture and never hear back. After the Super Bowl, we got an order from the Stadium (Gillette) and the order was going to Bill Belichick. He sent us a nice letter and we found out he has this one hanging in his office.
How do you come up with your ideas?
I watch TV, look at scenery or it could just be observing something. It sounds a little crazy, but I stare at the ceiling or wall before I go to bed and start arranging pictures in my head.
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