If you’ve been anywhere near the Bay Area lately, you’ve definitely heard about Alysa Liu’s absolutely insane gold medal win in figure skating. But here’s the thing, while the city of Oakland is planning some major celebrations for our hometown hero, a local artist collective has already made their move. This past weekend, the East Bay crew known as Illuminaries unveiled a massive new mural dedicated to Liu right in the heart of Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood, and honestly, it’s exactly the kind of energy we need right now.

The mural is seriously impressive, and what makes it even cooler is that the artists paid for it entirely out of their own pockets. These folks weren’t waiting for some official city project or corporate sponsorship, they just decided to celebrate one of our own. Steve Ha, a painter with Illuminaries, explained the whole vibe to NBC Bay Area: “The Warriors left, the A’s left, but it’s kind of like we have someone to look up to and somebody that our kids can aspire to be. And you know, follow your dreams and I think it’s just dope man”.

Honestly, that quote hits different. For years, the Bay Area has dealt with some major L’s when it comes to our sports teams. But Liu’s victory is this beautiful reminder that incredible talent comes from right here in our community. She’s not a franchise, she’s a person, a competitor, and someone who put in the work to achieve something most of us can only dream about.

What really sealed the deal for this mural is that it includes the message “Shoutout Oakland,” which is exactly what Liu yelled right after her gold medal-winning performance. It’s the kind of detail that shows the artists actually care about capturing the real moment, not just slapping up a generic tribute. They understood that this win isn’t just about the medal, it’s about community pride and representation.

Illuminaries has been doing this kind of work in the East Bay for a minute, using their platform to celebrate local culture and community heroes. This mural in Temescal is just the latest example of grassroots celebration that doesn’t wait for permission or funding. It’s the kind of thing that makes you remember why supporting local artists matters.

So if you haven’t checked out the mural yet, it’s definitely worth a trip to Temescal. Take some pictures, feel the local pride, and remember that we’re living in the same city as an Olympic gold medalist. That’s pretty sick.