Oakland Unveils Massive Alysa Liu Mural
Oakland's Temescal neighborhood unveiled a massive mural honoring figure skater Alysa Liu, celebrating her achievements and local roots. The artwork has quickly become a community landmark and testament to the intersection of street art and sports culture. New BabyBartier graffiti "NIGHTMARE ON RODEO" was also spotted in LA.
The mural, located at 43rd and Telegraph in the Temescal neighborhood, was created by the local artist collective Illuminaries. The artists reportedly paid for the project out of their own pockets as a way to celebrate a hometown hero after the departure of the Warriors and A's. The piece features Liu's now-famous "thizz face" expression while holding her gold medal, a nod to Bay Area rap legend Mac Dre, and includes the phrase "Shout out Oakland." Raised in Oakland and a product of the Oakland Ice Center, Alysa Liu's journey to the top has been history-making. At just 13, she became the youngest-ever U.S. women's national champion in 2019. She was also the first American woman to land a quadruple jump in competition and the first in the world to land a quad and a triple Axel in the same program. Liu's recent success at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, where she won individual and team gold, marked a stunning comeback. She had previously announced her retirement from the sport in 2022 at the age of 16, stating she had accomplished her goals and wanted to move on with her life. This made her the first American women's singles skater since 2002 gold medalist Sarah Hughes to not initially plan for a second Olympics. After a two-year break where she focused on life as a normal teenager and began attending UCLA, Liu announced her return to the ice in March 2024. She returned with a new sense of autonomy, taking more control over her music and creative choices. This new approach quickly led to a 2025 World Championship, the first by an American woman since 2006, and ultimately, to her Olympic victories.
