Oakland's Alysa Liu Mural
Oakland honored hometown hero Alysa Liu with a new massive mural dedicated to the accomplished young figure skater. The vibrant tribute serves as recognition of Liu's achievements and her inspiring role in the community, marking a fresh addition to the city's thriving street art scene.
Located at the corner of 43rd Street and Telegraph Avenue in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood, the mural was designed and painted by the local graffiti artist group The Illuminaries. The piece celebrates not just Liu's athletic victory but also her representation of the Bay Area's culture and spirit. The mural's central image captures Liu making a "thizz face," an expression popularized by Bay Area rap legend Mac Dre, while holding up her gold medal. This specific pose, along with green and gold accents paying homage to the departed Oakland A's and the phrase “Shout out Oakland,” firmly roots the tribute in local pride. The Illuminaries have previously painted other Bay Area athletes, including a notable mural of Steph Curry. Raised in Oakland and a product of the Oakland Ice Center, Alysa Liu became the first American woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in figure skating since 2002 at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. This victory marked a significant comeback for the 20-year-old, who had previously retired from the sport at age 16 after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, citing burnout. Before her retirement and comeback, Liu had already broken numerous records. At 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 a competition and the first woman globally to land both a quad and a triple Axel in the same program. Following her 2026 Olympic victories in both the women's singles and the team event, Liu has been celebrated widely in her hometown. Local institution Fentons Creamery offered her "ice cream for life" and created a new flavor, "Alysa's Gold," in her honor. The City of Oakland also announced it would hold a community-wide celebration for the champion. The Oakland mural is one of at least two major art pieces created to honor Liu's Olympic achievement in California. Another mural by artist Gustavo Zermeño Jr. was painted in Gardena, near UCLA, where Liu is a student. This outpouring of public art reflects the significant impact of her historic win and her inspiring personal story.
