AEW, RoH superstar Lee Moriarty has done something no other wrestler has done. He is the first active professional wrestler to have their artwork acquired by a major museum.
The Pérez Art Museum Miami has acquired one of his works for its permanent collection.
The painting is entitled Summer Garden Selfie (2024) and is described as “a jarringly intimate portrait of a luchador adorned in a pink mask and surrounded by delicate foliage – offering a nuanced and atypical depiction of the sport and grappling with themes of masculinity, emotion, and performance.”
Moriarty’s work joins sixteen other recent acquisitions at PAMM, placing it in distinguished company alongside pieces by Judy Chicago, Vija Celmins, and Chico da Silva.
“The acquisition aligns with the museum’s ongoing mission to collect and present work that reflects the cultural and social dynamics of our time. Moriarty’s inclusion in this collection reflects this vision, highlighting the intersection of performance, sports, identity, and visual art,” wrote Orange Crush, the bi-annual publication celebrating wrestling and contemporary art.
They said of his art: “His work explores the often-overlooked duality of professional wrestling, depicting masked wrestlers not in the ring, but in moments of quiet leisure and introspection. Some don suits in front of a floral pattern, or appreciate a barbeque in a private garden. Moriarty’s subjects reflect a softer, more contemplative side of life—one that exists in contrast to the intensity of the ring, yet is essential to the well-being of full time fighters like Moriarty.”
His presentation at NADA Miami 2024 in collaboration with Orange Crush marked his public debut as a visual artist. He will have his first gallery solo exhibition with Night Gallery in Los Angeles in September 2025.
