The art of sportsmanship – Jewish artist honoured by heroes

When Melissa Ackerman merged her passions for painting and sport, she never dreamed that the famous subjects of her portraits – Springbok Captain Siya Kolisi and Liverpool Football Club manager Jürgen Klopp – would sign them. Not only did she meet Kolisi, he transported her painting of Klopp to the manager himself.

“It’s been a dream come true,” says Ackerman. “To have two of the world’s most influential sports personalities take note of my work and take the time to sign portraits that this young, Jewish, South African girl painted of them, is mind blowing.”

Growing up in a family with two older brothers and a father who are all sports mad meant that Ackerman’s path was set. “I always say that I was born supporting Liverpool,” she laughs. “It was a no-brainer. My father and my oldest brother are Liverpool fanatics. Rugby was huge in our house as well. I’ve watched the Springboks my whole life.”

Her creative flair, she says, comes from her mom’s side of the family. “My grandfather was an architect, and my mom is an interior designer. Their creativity flowed through into my artistic side, so it’s a great mix.”

Working as a brand manager for payment-solution company, Payflex, by day, Ackerman hones her passion for art by night. Having taken art for matric, she took a break from the hobby before joining an evening art class at the Janet Pollack Art Studio six years ago. Here, she took her flair for sketching into oil painting, the medium she uses for her preferred form of expression – portraits.

Though Ackerman has sold quite a few of her pieces at the studio’s art exhibitions and through word of mouth, nothing has prepared her for the doors her work has opened. “I’m not somebody who pushes my art all the time,” she says.

“All my work is in black and white. It’s always my preferred colour scheme, so that’s what I used when I painted a large portrait of Siya in his rugby jersey. I decided that I wanted to do a painting of Siya because I loved his story and how he’s such a big part of South African sporting history.” South Africa’s first black rugby captain, Kolisi has had a stellar career.

Ackerman was moved by Kolisi’s journey, from his early hardships growing up in Zwide township in the Eastern Cape to becoming captain of a World Cup winning Springbok team. “Where he came from to where he is now, and the effect he has on the community is inspirational,” she says. “He’s a role model to the youth. To see somebody accomplish that and still be so humble and generous, it’s good to know that people like that still exist. He’s the nicest person, a real gentleman.”

Connecting with her Springbok hero was never part of Ackerman’s plan, but their eventual meeting was set in motion when Kolisi saw her portrait. “My brother posted the painting on a Liverpool supporters’ WhatsApp group, where Siya is also a member. Everyone on the group was saying how incredible the painting was, and they told Siya he had to sign it. He was keen.”

Ackerman subsequently did a portrait of Klopp that was posted on the group as well, which is when Kolisi reached out to her. “He said how much he loved the pieces, and we arranged to meet and he signed his portrait.”

Also a massive Liverpool fan, Kolisi is friendly with Klopp, with whom he coincidently shares a birthday. And so, the rugby star took Ackerman’s Klopp painting to the United Kingdom (UK) with him, where the football manager signed it. This is something that remains a far-off dream for most British artists, never mind an unknown South African one.

“As a Springbok and Liverpool supporter, I did the portraits because I thought it would be cool and now have two signed paintings from two legends hanging in my home,” says Ackerman. “It’s amazing!”

Klopp and Kolisi aren’t the only celebrities Ackerman has reached through her art. She once did a painting of American rock group ZZ Top, and through a family friend, it came to the attention of the band’s vocalist-guitarist, Billy Gibbons, who sent his compliments. She even connected with Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones through a portrait she painted of him. “My cousin, who lives in the UK, came back to me, and said, ‘You won’t believe it, but I’m best friends with his daughter and she sent it on to him, and he was impressed.’ It’s been insane.”

Yet, the signed Kolisi and Klopp portraits are her proudest art moments to date. “It’s a huge deal, that these people have recognised my art. It’s the biggest compliment I think anyone could ever have.”

As a thank you for what he’s done for her, Ackerman is painting a commissioned piece for Kolisi. “I send him regular progress updates of the painting. It’s been very exciting,” she says. “To have the honour of doing a painting for him and having him put it in his own space is pretty incredible.”