Phoenix Suns and Mercury unveil new mural at PHX Arena

There is a new piece of artwork at PHX Arena. The Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury Foundation collaborated with two local artists to design and create the mural on the west side of the arena. It features Mercury legend Diana Taurasi, Mercury guard Kahleah Copper and young girls from the Jr. Mercury Legacy League youth basketball program. This new mural replaced a previous one that celebrated former Mercury star Britney Griner after her release from detention in Russia.

Antoinette Cauley who is the artist behind the piece also collaborated on the Mercury Mural Mentorship Program. It is an opportunity for fem- identifying artists in Phoenix to learn the ins and outs of mural making from Cauley. The five-week program covered various business-related topics such as understanding contracts, collaboratively working with organizations on large scale art projects and how to grow your practice as an artist and muralist. At the end of the program, mentees assisted Antoinette in installing a new large-scale mural for the Phoenix Mercury team.

Antoinette Cauley and Alicia Hidalgo, who are both artists, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the new mural.

Courtesy of Phoenix Mercury Mural Mentorship Program

“I’m excited about it. We brought a little color to the city,” said Cauley when talking about the new mural.

But besides the mural-making side, Cauley also emphasized the business side by providing advice in that regard.

“I talked to the girls about how to negotiate with a big team like the Mercury or a corporation? How do you price your murals? How much do you charge based on the time of year? That was very beneficial for them.”

“This was completely new for me. I do my art in my room, in my zone. This was different for me. I’m so proud of how it came out. Everyone taught someone something different that they didn’t know, and it was really great,” said Hidalgo, about her experience participating in the mentorship program.

Location of Phoenix Mercury Mural