{"id":271398,"date":"2026-04-16T21:16:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T21:16:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/271398\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T21:16:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T21:16:15","slug":"new-alysa-liu-and-kristi-yamaguchi-mural-at-oakland-ice-center-times-herald-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/271398\/","title":{"rendered":"New Alysa Liu and Kristi Yamaguchi mural at Oakland Ice Center \u2013 Times Herald Online"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most celebrities in The Town have just one mural, but Oakland Olympic skater Alysa Liu now has three.<\/p>\n

In addition to artist Julie Engelmann\u2019s 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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Former child figure skater and surfer Engelmann, of Half Moon Bay, was so inspired by Liu\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s been stopping by to see her daughter in action.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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,\u201d Engelmann said.<\/p>\n

\"ArtistArtist 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
\nin 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)<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Ice now owns the center.<\/p>\n

\u201cJulie 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,\u201d Martin said. \u201cIt\u2019s been amazing to watch her create it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alysa was 9 years old when she began skating at the Ice Center, and Martin remembers her well.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was just a bubbly kid who was here every single day. She\u2019s always been a really strong skater and complete jumper and it\u2019s been pretty impressive this year. She\u2019s doing it her way and that\u2019s fun,\u201d Martin said. \u201cWe\u2019re all very proud of her and I\u2019m happy that myself and my staff get to be part it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Engelmann has done other large-scale murals<\/a> in Colma, Pacifica, Daly City and Half Moon Bay. She said that both the Sharks and Ice Center management were excited about the artwork.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw this big wall and got the ball rolling and made it happen,\u201d Engelmann said. \u201cI\u2019m honored to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ArtistArtist 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\u2019s nearly complete. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)
\n\"ArtistArtist 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
\nin 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)
\n\"ArtistArtist 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
\nin 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)<\/p>\n

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