Most celebrities in The Town have just one mural, but Oakland Olympic skater Alysa Liu now has three.
In addition to artist Julie Engelmann’s project at the Oakland Ice Center, there are at least two other prominent murals honoring 2026 Olympic double gold medalist Liu. Among those is a 15-foot piece by The Illuminaries at Telegraph and 43rd Avenues in the Temescal district, and the other by artist Tre Sorensen at the Providence Athletic Club at Market and 22nd Streets in West Oakland.
Former child figure skater and surfer Engelmann, of Half Moon Bay, was so inspired by Liu’s Olympic performance that she decided to commemorate it with a giant mural of Liu and fellow 1992 gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi on the outside wall of the Oakland Ice Center, where both skaters have trained. Liu has trained there since she was 5, and Yamaguchi did after turning pro.
Engelmann began the nearly 100-foot-wide mural in late March. Both passersby and students at the Oakland School for the Arts across the street have been cheering her on during the process. So has her mom Kim, also a former figure skater, who’s been stopping by to see her daughter in action.
“I thought her performance was really inspiring. She brought a lot of fun and an art practice, rather than the high-pressure culture that skating is,” Engelmann said.
Artist Julie Engelmann, of Half Moon Bay, works on her mural of Olympic gold medal figure skaters Alysa Liu and Kristi Yamaguchi at the Oakland Ice Center
in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Engelmann has worked on the mural since late March and it will be done this week. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Ice Center general manager Glenn Martin and Engelmann worked together on the initial design that she came up with, which the San Jose Sharks had to sign off on as well as the city, since Shark’s Ice now owns the center.
“Julie approached us and I wanted to do something with all of the other murals popping up. I wanted to do something that was grand and true to where Alysa comes from,” Martin said. “It’s been amazing to watch her create it.”
Alysa was 9 years old when she began skating at the Ice Center, and Martin remembers her well.
“She was just a bubbly kid who was here every single day. She’s always been a really strong skater and complete jumper and it’s been pretty impressive this year. She’s doing it her way and that’s fun,” Martin said. “We’re all very proud of her and I’m happy that myself and my staff get to be part it.”
Engelmann has done other large-scale murals in Colma, Pacifica, Daly City and Half Moon Bay. She said that both the Sharks and Ice Center management were excited about the artwork.
“I saw this big wall and got the ball rolling and made it happen,” Engelmann said. “I’m honored to do it.”
Artist Julie Engelmann, of Half Moon Bay, adjusts her lift as she works on her mural of Olympic gold medal figure skaters Alysa Liu and Kristi Yamaguchi at the Oakland Ice Center in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Engelmann has worked on the mural since late March and it’s nearly complete. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Artist Julie Engelmann, of Half Moon Bay, works on her mural of Olympic gold medal figure skaters Alysa Liu and Kristi Yamaguchi at the Oakland Ice Center
in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Engelmann has worked on the mural since late March and it will be done this week. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Artist Julie Engelmann, of Half Moon Bay, works on her mural of Olympic gold medal figure skaters Alysa Liu and Kristi Yamaguchi at the Oakland Ice Center
in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Engelmann has worked on the mural since late March and it will be done this week. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)