“Spectator’s Advantage” Mural Dedicated in Downtown Cincinnati

In honor of 125 years of tennis history at the Cincinnati Open and its impact on the community as one of the oldest sporting events in the country, a permanent mural recognizing the tournament was dedicated yesterday downtown.

Titled “Spectator’s Advantage,” the mural, painted by 16 local ArtWorks youth apprentices ages 14-21, is located in a prominent spot on the north-facing wall at 838 Reedy Street, near Pendleton. The large mural serves as a visual tribute to the legacy and future vision of the tournament.

Bob Moran, Cincinnati Open tournament director, joined ArtWorks CEO Colleen Houston to officially dedicate the mural.

“As the Cincinnati Open grows and becomes an even larger part of the community in the decades to come, we are thrilled to showcase our event in downtown Cincinnati with this mural,” said Moran. “It captures the shared energy the event brings to our area and serves as a reminder throughout the year of the excitement we enjoy each August.”

The mural features a tennis match in action on Center Court at the Cincinnati Open. Mural viewers take on a fan’s perspective of the court, where the intensity of the point matches the excitement of the fans. Through its bold colors and central location, the mural reflects the spirit of human connection and hospitality that defines the event.

Designed by award-winning illustrator and print artist Alison Seiffer, the mural was created by the 16 apprentices and teaching artists Sophie Shiff, Tevin Brown and Dani Pflum. Seiffer’s illustrations have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Popular Science, Consumer Reports and The Wall Street Journal.

“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 shots. 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.”

This is the second mural project collaboration between the tournament and ArtWorks. In 2022, a mural was designed by Jim Tucker and created by ArtWorks’ year-long mural studio artists along with tournament attendees on a series of panels and gifted to the tournament.