
Award-winning photographer George Kalinsky was one of the most famous image makers of our time. From his start photographing Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) in 1966 until his death in early 2025, his lens captured some of the most important faces, places, and events in the world of sports, entertainment, and politics.
As the long-term official photographer of Madison Square Garden, he created many iconic images. Newsmakers such as Frank Sinatra, Muhammad Ali, Peggy Fleming, Pope John Paul II, Luciano Pavarotti, Patrick Ewing, Bill Russell, and Mariano Rivera have all stated that George Kalinsky took their favorite photograph. George also captured the world’s greatest rock stars on the world’s greatest stage. His iconic shots of Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, John Lennon, The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, and Billy Joel are all displayed in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. A photo painting Kalinsky created of Michael Jordan became a special birthday gift for President Obama, given to him by the First Lady.
Kalinsky’s honors and awards include the 2001 PMDA International Photographer of the Year, the National Center for Disabilities Sportsman of the Year (2001), the New York Board of Rabbis Man of the Year (2006), National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame inductee (2007), the Pratt Institute Lifetime Achievement Award (2008), the National Arts Club Medal of Honor (2010), New York City Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (2010), the New York Knickerbockers Legacy Award (2015) and the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame (2021).
Among the many venues in which his work has been exhibited are the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the International Center of Photography, the New-York Historical Society and The Olympus Plaza Gallery in Tokyo. His works are also part of the permanent collections of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cornell University, the New York Governor’s Mansion, the Jewish Museum of New York, the Southern Vermont Arts Center, the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame, and Madison Square Garden.
In 2008, some of George’s most iconic photographs were displayed on huge billboards in New York City’s Times Square, drawing the attention of millions of passers-by every day. In addition to his ten published books, which have sold more than 2 million copies, Kalinsky’s photos also appeared in hundreds of other books, magazines, newspapers and web sites throughout the world.
A documentary and book are both currently in the works chronicling George’s life and career.





