Sylvester Stallone recently participated in a charity auction, selling his unique artwork for $410,000.
The 78-year-old actor who played Rambo showed some of his lesser-known talents in a video clip he shared with TMZ.
On Friday evening, he used his camera to capture the high-energy bidding battle for his work, "Knocking Heads," which took place at The Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas.
The painting he created is a canvas nearly the size of a wall and packed with vibrant greens, yellows, and reds. It appears to be influenced by a style combining cubism and street graffiti.
Through stencils, the artist represents himself as his iconic figure, Rocky Balboa, and other abstract faces that appear to be lost in meditation. It is possible to make out the words "Still fighting - 12/21/18" scratched into the canvas using blank paint in the bottom left corner of the painting.
In an Instagram post published in March 2023, the actor gave his followers an up-close look at "Knocking Heads" and included a number of other paintings.
According to The Daily Mail, he divulged that the funds would be donated to AIDS research while attending an event conducted in Sin City by the organization AmfAR.
In a previous Instagram post, the entertainment industry veteran stated that he started painting when he was nine years old and encouraged his followers to try the hobby.
“People asked me when I started painting, actually, they used to have to tie a pork chop around my neck to get the family dog to play with me. So I decided I better entertain myself. And I started painting when I was about nine, and it turned out to be very interesting. I recommend it for everyone," Stallone stated.
In his eloquent speech, he extolled the virtues of painting and described how, before writing about the characters from his successful "Rocky" flicks, he would first draw them out for inspiration.
“Before I started to write Rocky for example, I'd always draw the characters before I wrote about them, so I had some idea of what the image was going to be,” the actor-turned-artist said. “So I was not just haphazardly writing about some nebulous person. It's actually a specific image.”
The disclosure of Stallone's hidden talent incited a spectrum of responses online, from adoration to lighthearted skepticism. “Who knew Rambo could paint? Stallone’s artwork is genuinely impressive!” an X user stated. “$410K for a painting? I’d rather have the gloves he wore in Rocky! ” another netizen shared.
“Say what you want about Stallone, but this is a great cause and an incredible talent," a third X user retorted. “The fusion of cubism and graffiti is bold! Stallone has more layers than I thought," another source said.
“The man went from fighting in the ring to painting masterpieces. What’s next, a gallery tour?” a fifth X user commented. “Using his fame for good. This is what we need more of from celebrities," another netizen responded.
Business Times has reached out to Sylvester Stallone for comments.
