Alysa Liu Inspires Two Cities With Olympic Gold Murals

When Alysa Liu bit down on her Olympic gold medal and flashed a "thizz face" grin in Milan, artists across California knew exactly what to do.

Within days of Liu's historic win, muralist Gustavo Zermeño Jr. in Los Angeles began painting the now-iconic moment. The artwork went viral almost immediately, celebrating the UCLA student who became the first American woman to win Olympic gold in singles figure skating in 20 years.

But 400 miles north in Oakland, where Liu actually trains and lives, another group of artists was watching. The Illuminaries, a local mural collective, initially hesitated when fans flooded them with requests to honor their hometown hero.

"To be honest, we didn't even know who she was," admitted Steve Ha of The Illuminaries. "But after reading more about her story, and seeing she's such an inspiration, it was like, 'How could we not?'"

By Friday, both cities were bringing Liu's joy to life on their walls. The Illuminaries launched their project in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood, funding it out of their own pockets and styling it "the Illuminaries way."

Ha said his team wanted to show that "the Bay has style" after seeing the Los Angeles mural gain attention. The friendly artistic rivalry mirrors the celebration happening across the state for Liu's achievement.

The Ripple Effect

Liu's impact goes beyond athletic achievement. She quit figure skating four years ago, only to return two years later and do things her own way. Her performances bubbled with unfiltered joy and authenticity.

"That's what the f— I'm talking about," she told cameras after her gold-clinching performance, perfectly capturing her unapologetic style.

Former pro skater Carrie Maultsby-Lute said at a watch party that Liu "could only have come out of Oakland" with such powerful joy. The city, which has seen professional sports teams leave in recent years, is planning a community-wide celebration for their champion.

"For her to embrace Oakland is this new energy," Ha said. "It's inspiration. Oakland needs that. America needs that right now."

The Oakland mural replaced an old piece depicting former Golden State Warriors player Klay Thompson, symbolizing fresh energy for a city hungry for hometown heroes. Liu eagerly claimed her Oakland roots after winning, telling reporters she was "glad that I could bring Oakland to Milan."

Zermeño welcomes other Liu murals popping up, comparing it to when artists honored Kobe Bryant. "More murals inspire artists to step outside their comfort zone," he said.

Both murals capture more than an athletic achievement—they celebrate a young woman who represents joy, authenticity, and the power of doing things your own way.

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