{"id":194201,"date":"2026-02-26T03:49:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T03:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/194201\/"},"modified":"2026-02-26T03:49:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T03:49:09","slug":"muralist-honors-gold-medal-olympian-alysa-liu-with-mural-in-gardena-nbc-los-angeles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/194201\/","title":{"rendered":"Muralist honors gold medal Olympian Alysa Liu with mural in Gardena \u2013 NBC Los Angeles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gardena is looking extra golden these days thanks to an artist who\u2019s working on a mural of Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu.<\/a><\/p>\n

Muralist Gustavo Zerme\u00f1o Jr. is transforming a business on Crenshaw Boulevard into a homage to the UCLA Olympian, who ended a 24-year medal drought Team USA\u2019s women\u2019s figure skating had experienced. Zerme\u00f1o is memorializing Liu\u2019s playful bite of her gold medal into artwork that will last.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think her personality really captivated the U.S.,\u201d Zerme\u00f1o said. \u201cShe\u2019s from the Bay Area, but she goes to UCLA, so she has some ties to Los Angeles, but I think ultimately, I wanted to paint something that not only inspired myself but obviously inspired the U.S., but also inspires the youth.\u201d<\/p>\n

The artist was quick to get to work, beginning his project on Tuesday. He admitted that he didn\u2019t get to see Liu\u2019s gold medal performance live but learned about her following her victory, and was moved after hearing more about her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat she\u2019s doing is amazing in itself for the sport, but I think her personality and her being true to herself is what really inspired not only myself, but all the social media frenzy,\u201d Zerme\u00f1o said.<\/p>\n

The 20-year-old skated to the top with a performance to Donna Summer’s version of “MacArthur Park,” eliciting thunderous applause from the audience and viewers globally.<\/p>\n

As Zerme\u00f1o learned more about Liu, who is the daughter of a Chinese immigrant, he said he almost immediately began to think of where he would cement his next masterpiece. The artist lives roughly in the same area as where he decided to place his mural, adding that the community reflects the Olympian\u2019s background.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, the South Bay, Torrance, Gardena, it\u2019s predominantly an Asian community, so I wanted to do something that represented the community as well as something that inspired me,\u201d Zerme\u00f1o said. \u201cI think this was the perfect location for that; outside the Bay Area, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear when Zerme\u00f1o will finish his latest installment, but he\u2019s working quickly with his spray paint.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019d be amazing if she sees this, but this is for us,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is for the community, to inspire the youth.\u201d<\/p>\n

To keep up with Zerme\u00f1o\u2019s progress on his artwork, click here<\/a>. The mural is being painted on a wall located at 15532 Crenshaw Blvd. in Gardena.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOlympic figure skater Alysa Liu shared the story behind the jewelry you can see when she smiles.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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