UTA student creates vibrant World Cup mural in Arlington
With the start of the FIFA World Cup less than a month away, North Texas is preparing to welcome tens of thousands of soccer fans from across the globe—especially in Arlington, where the heart of the action will take place.
To celebrate the international spotlight on Arlington, VB Steakhouse, a local Brazilian steakhouse, commissioned Kimy Leonard, a fine arts student at The University of Texas at Arlington, to create a one-of-a-kind mural that bridges community and sports.
VB Steakhouse reached out to Carlos DonJuan, assistant professor and drawing area coordinator, about giving one of his students the opportunity to collaborate with the restaurant on the mural. After learning of the opportunity to submit a design, Leonard began researching Brazilian murals and decided to pay homage to the colorful artwork that can be found throughout Brazil.
“Knowing so many people are potentially going to be seeing my art on this mural was such a big opportunity for me and why I poured countless nights into it,” Leonard said. “I really wanted to show how much pride I had in showing everybody what Arlington has to offer, what our school has to offer—it’s such a meaningful opportunity for everyone involved.”
Leonard is specializing in drawing for her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and it was at UTA that she realized she wanted to become a mural artist. She has been creating art since she was a child, and when she decided to come back to UTA to finish her degree, she took the time to explore what she truly loved the most.
After reviewing all the submitted designs, the restaurant chose Leonard’s concept because of its vibrant colors and energy.
“With soccer, there are so many beautiful dynamic action shots, and I really wanted to showcase one of those,” Leonard said. “Also, when you look at Brazilian murals, you’ll see a lot of patterns and movement. In the background of my piece, I have a pattern of olive leaves that are supposed to represent community and sportsmanship—a nod to what this event represents.”
It took Leonard nearly a month to complete the 16-foot-tall mural, all while wrapping up the semester at UTA. It is the first solo mural she has ever done, but she received plenty of support from her professors, classmates and family throughout the process.
For Leonard, receiving that support was one of the most rewarding and meaningful aspects of the experience.
Her favorite part of her mural is the olive-leaf pattern in the background. She said it was one of the most difficult elements of the design, but she is proud of how it turned out because it plays such a significant role in the overall design.
The mural will be unveiled during a special ceremony on Saturday, May 16.
VB Steakhouse owners said the mural represents much more than art; it represents the energy of Arlington, the importance of supporting young local talent and the passion the FIFA World Cup brings to people around the world.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.