Carmelo Anthony Named Among TIME's 100 Most Influential People in Art

Carmelo Anthony has been recognized as one of TIME's 100 most influential people in art for 2026. The former NBA player, who retired in 2022, has developed a significant passion for art collection, a pursuit that began in his youth and intensified during his professional basketball career.

Anthony's early exposure to art was influenced by street graffiti and album covers. His appreciation for artists like Romare Bearden, whose 1976 work "The Sugar Shack" holds cultural significance, deepened over time. After joining the New York Knicks in 2011, Anthony began actively exploring the art world, inspired by conversations with former players who collected works by artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol. His visits to galleries on the road led to the accumulation of a substantial art collection by the time his playing career concluded.

In his post-NBA life, which includes investments in wine, cannabis, apparel, and production companies, Anthony continues to engage with art. He has expressed an interest in learning to paint himself and sees the medium as a field of endless creative potential. "The next step is to actually start to try to visualize stories and try it," Anthony stated.

Looking ahead, Anthony harbors a desire to share his collection with the public. He has identified Baltimore, the city where he lived from age 8, as his dream location for a potential exhibition. "A lot of the art that I have comes from being emotionally attached to the city, and all things that I've been through," he explained. "To be able to start it there would mean a lot."

For those new to art collecting, Anthony advises patience and a focus on genuine connection. "Art can be intimidating," he said. "But just don't be in a rush. Take your time. If you don't understand it right there, leave it and come back to it. If it brings you back, then you know that's the piece. That’s when you know it's genuine."