New mural highlights potential Indiana Fever No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark. See it for yourself
Kwazar Martin, an Indianapolis-based street artist known for his colorful graffiti art, has added to his collection of larger-than-life murals, Indiana Fever's likely No. 1 draft pick, Caitlin Clark.
The 20 feet wide and 15 feet high piece is sprayed onto the cinder block facade of a building on 17th Street on the city's west side and uses nearly 20 different colors. The image of Clark shows her looking off to the east, calm and confident. "Locked in," Kwazar said.
The lettering style depicting Clark's last name is something Kwazar's not attempted before. He wanted it to be unique, different than the neighboring Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton mural he completed just before the 2024 NBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis.
"When I go to Louisville or Cincinnati to get my cans, I buy the Montana Blacks," he said. "I spend maybe $200 to $300 on just cans, buying as many colors as possible." However, for Kwazar, it's not until he's standing in front of an empty wall that he decides what colors he'll use.
As the buzz surrounding Clark's record-breaking season mixed with the news of her declaring for the 2024 WBNA Draft, and with the Fever being her likely landing spot, Kwazar thought an ode to Clark was necessary. And, rightly so. Clark recently earned the scoring title across both men's and women's D1 basketball.
"She's changing the game," he said. "Just to see the excitement of her coming into the league, not just here, is pretty dope. She's done a lot for this city already, and she's not even here yet."
In total, the mural took 26 hours to complete over the course of five days since Clark’s WNBA announcement on February 29.
On Monday, as he descended his ladder for what he estimated was the 200th time, he stepped back about 30 feet to appreciate the entire piece. At the same moment, an SUV pulled up, and the driver rolled down her window.
"I'm going to send my grandbabies down," the woman yelled. "This is just so wonderful. They love that style of art."
Kwazar said lots of people stop by to talk, watch or take pictures. Sometimes kids will stop and ask to have their picture taken with him. "The kids, man," Kwazar said. "When the kids stop and say how much my art means, that's what really gets me."
Contact IndyStar photojournalist Mykal McEldowney at 317-790-6991 or [email protected]. Follow him on Instagram or Twitter/X.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Caitlin Clark, potential Indiana Fever No. 1 pick, on Indy mural
