CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – While the world’s fastest lugers raced down the icy track Monday night at the , 2026 Olympic Winter Games, one spectator wasn’t focused on times or podium finishes. French artist Marc Ahr, a veteran of 17 Olympic Games, was captivated by the faces in the crowd.
Ahr, who refers to himself as the “unofficial painter of the Games,” wasn’t there to judge athletic performance. He was there to capture the raw emotion of the spectators – their joy, their disappointment, their shared experience of witnessing Olympic competition. He began his work in Milan, sketching the opening ceremony, hockey matches and cityscapes, before traveling to Cortina d’Ampezzo to document luge, women’s Alpine skiing, and curling.
Working with a simple black pen, Ahr rapidly sketched the scene during the women’s singles luge event, prioritizing speed to capture fleeting moments. “I don’t really care if they go fast or not fast,” he explained, gesturing towards the track. “What’s important is the emotion of people.”
His canvas wasn’t a blank sheet, but a vibrant tapestry of human reactions. He drew groups huddled around screens displaying results, children playing in the snow, fans dancing with the Games’ mascot, Tina, and parents offering comfort to their children. A spontaneous moment – dancing with Tina herself – also found its way into his artwork.
Ahr’s process was interactive. Spectators, noticing his attention, often approached him, curious about his work. He readily offered to add their names alongside their likenesses, creating personalized mementos of their Olympic experience. For Isabel Hernandez of Mexico, he drew the Mexican flag to ensure her recognition. A German fan received a depiction of their face paint, a symbol of national pride and sporting enthusiasm.
Hernandez, herself an artist, expressed her appreciation for Ahr’s work. “I also draw, so it’s nice to see people doing it for events like this,” she said. “It’s something that I will share with my friends. And people probably won’t believe me, but it’s fun to know that I have this memory of it.”
The artist’s ability to connect with the crowd was evident in the scene he created. Bette Wiley, Cheryl Ann Husby, and Cynthia Brictson posed together, arms linked, as Ahr incorporated them into his drawing. Brictson described the experience as uniquely special. “Have you ever been standing in the middle of the Dolomites and had a man sketch you? It doesn’t get any more unique than that.”
Initially focused on the crowd, Ahr eventually turned his attention to the track itself, adding a directional arrow to his sketch after realizing he had initially drawn the lugers traveling in the wrong direction. He planned to complete the artwork with watercolors, adding depth and color to the scene. His pieces are available for purchase online and at the Olympic venue.
While Ahr appreciates the athleticism on display, his true passion lies in capturing the human element of the Games. He often paints portraits of athletes after the competitions conclude, but during the event itself, he finds the most fulfillment in interacting with spectators and absorbing their positive energy. “I use my talent to make people happy,” he said. “Why not? This is why I am happy to do it.”
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are also being celebrated through a series of art posters created by ten young Italian artists. Led by Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 and Triennale Milano, in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the “Art Posters” project aims to merge art, sport, and contemporary culture. The original works are currently exhibited at Triennale Milano.
The posters, spanning various mediums including oil, gouache, acrylic, digital drawing, and mixed media, celebrate not only the sporting competition but also the unity and vibrancy of Italian art. One artist, Flaminia Veronesi, explained the underlying theme: “Games—both Olympic and everyday—give life to imaginary worlds, symbolic representations of reality.” She added, “Wasting time in play helps us rediscover joy in life, and the Olympics are an opportunity for both spectators and athletes to practice that.”
Beatrice Alici’s poster, titled “Silver Peaks,” depicts a mountain landscape with a ski-jumper, a hockey player, and a figure skater holding the Olympic torch, representing the achievements of first, second, and third place. Alici drew inspiration from her childhood skiing trips and aimed to portray the Games as “timeless and almost mythical.”
Another artist, whose work is titled ‘Visione Olympica’, captures the essence of the Games, the energy and personality of those who experience them, sublimating the DNA of the city and nature, of Milan and Cortina.
While the athletic competitions will undoubtedly define the 2026 Winter Olympics, the work of artists like Marc Ahr and the ten Italian poster designers serves as a reminder that the Games are about more than just medals and records. They are about the shared human experience, the emotions that connect us, and the joy of witnessing extraordinary feats of athleticism and artistry.