UCLA Basketball Duo Emily Bessoir and Izzy Anstey Host First NIL Art Show

Bruin seniors collaborate on painting and poetry collection focused on self-image, female empowerment

Ahead of Selection Sunday and their number two seed in the stacked Albany 2 region, UCLA senior forwards Emily Bessoir and Izzy Anstey hosted their first art show, featuring a collection of paintings and poems focused on self-image and female empowerment.

Currently rehabbing a torn ACL that she suffered competing for the German National Team in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers - and during the first week of the college season - Bessoir has used her passion for art to bring a sense of stillness to the hectic lifestyle of a college student-athlete, especially when missing an entire season due to injury.

Anstey herself - an Australia-native - recently retired due to ongoing injuries, but has remained with the team through her senior season. Her poetic message to fans upon retirement poignantly summed up her unique experience at UCLA and how it shaped her on and off the hardwood.

The duo collaborated on the art show SHE IS: a canvas of strength, beauty and grace collection that included 11 paintings - Bessoir’s UCLA jersey number - with each piece set in different scenarios portraying a state of emotion and inner dialogue. The descriptions of Bessoir's paints are poems by Anstey, expressing what the image conveys in her unique voice.

“During this time of being injured, art is helping me define myself as more than an athlete,” Bessoir shared. “We train most days and are emotionally and physically so involved with our sport that we tend to forget that it is what we do – not who we are. When I reinjured my knee in November, I struggled figuring out what I do and who I am besides an athlete and a student. So, I leaned on painting to express myself and find stillness in the pain and struggle.”

"I AM BOTH" by Emily Bessoir :: Michael Ehrlich / Sports Illustrated

“To be able to put together this show with Em was such an incredible experience,” added Anstey. “While we created these pieces to share with everybody, each was also a love letter to ourselves to remind us that we can experience all of these emotions and together they create the people we are. The reception we had from all the people who came inspires me to continue to create art in hopes that it resonates with even one person and inspires them.”

While the main inspiration of the show was for the duo to express themselves as artists and host an intimate event before the NCAA Tournament for teammates, coaching staff, community members and UCLA supporters, Bessoir's paintings are for sale and will support her own NIL efforts. As a dual-citizen student-athlete, Bessoir can engage in US-based NIL opportunities while representing Germany at the international level.

“Each painting represents a mental state, such as ‘I am strong’ or ‘I am vulnerable’ - both negative and positive affirmations, which all coexist in this exhibition,” Bessoir said. “It is a journey through one’s inner dialogue, and the last piece is called ‘I am beautiful,’ and it is a mirror. I want other people to identify with the main character as they walk through the exhibition, acknowledge that there are multiple mental states we can have, but in the end they see themselves - and it all comes together and makes them beautiful.”

"I AM PRESENT" by Emily Bessoir :: Michael Ehrlich / Sports Illustrated

While Bessoir has been with the team on the sidelines this season, rehabbing her knee and finishing up her studies, she also has her eyes set on rejoining the German National Team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her artwork has been a secret weapon in her recovery. 

"It has been very therapeutic since you see a product coming together relatively quickly," she added. "When I get into the zone of painting, sometimes I either think of nothing, and it’s almost like meditation, and other times it helps me organize my thoughts."

Bessoir and Anstey Bruins have earned their highest NCAA Tournament seeding in program history, hosting their first round matchup against 15th-seeded Cal Baptist on Saturday. UCLA's Albany 2 region is perhaps the strongest in recent memory - featuring Caitlin Clark and top-seeded Iowa and the defending champions LSU Tigers as the number three seed - making for must-see TV over the next month.