ArtWorks and the Cincinnati Open Serve Up a Winning New Downtown Mural this Summer

The ball is in ArtWorks’ court to bring a new mural to life in celebration of the Cincinnati Open and its 125 years of tennis history.

Located on the north-facing wall at 838 Reedy Street, in downtown Cincinnati, near Pendleton, the mural features a thrilling tennis match in action on Center Court at the Cincinnati Open. Viewers take on a fan’s perspective of the court, where the intensity of the game matches the vibrant atmosphere of the newly renovated stadium.

Designed by award-winning Illustrator and Print Artist Alison Seiffer, the mural will be created by 16 Apprentices (ages 14–21) and Teaching Artists Sophie Shiff, Tevin Brown, and Dani Pflum. Seiffer, based in Montauk, New York, has had her illustrations appear in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Popular Science, Consumer Reports and The Wall Street Journal.

The mural will be completed in mid-August and a dedication will be held following the completion of the Cincinnati Open, which takes place Aug. 11–19.

“ArtWorks thrives on community partnerships, and working with the Cincinnati Open is a wonderful opportunity,” said Jill Dunne, ArtWorks’ Senior Director of Marketing & Communications. “We have over 300 murals across our city, each telling a unique story. I love that the mural captures the viewpoint of an excited fan as players exchange powerful serves and volleys. You can feel the energy of the match and the crowd’s enthusiasm. It gets you excited about the heart-pounding action that takes place in Cincinnati every year.”

You can feel the energy of the match and the crowd’s enthusiasm. It gets you excited about the heart-pounding action that takes place in Cincinnati every year.

Jill Dunne, ArtWorks’ Senior Director of Marketing & Communications

“The story of the Cincinnati Open spans back to 1899, and we felt it was only fitting to commemorate the rich history of tennis in this community by permanently showcasing the sport downtown through this mural,” said Bob Moran, President of Beemok Sports and Entertainment. “Together with ArtWorks, this project epitomizes the spirit of the Cincinnati Open – a vibrant celebration of tennis created by the community for all to see.”

This is the second mural project that ArtWorks has collaborated on with the Open. In 2022, a mural was designed by Jim Tucker and created by ArtWorks’ year-long Mural Studio artists along with tournament attendees throughout the event. The mural was created on a series of panels that was gifted to the tournament.