David McShane, a celebrated artist behind some of the best known murals in Philadelphia, paints beloved local sports icons across the city, writes Matt Breen for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
McShane was at Veterans Stadium for the first time in the 1970s when he fell in love with Philadelphia sports. Over half a century later, 60-year-old McShane paints his sports heroes for Mural Arts Philadelphia, channeling the same passion he felt as a kid into his artwork.
He is the artist behind Jackie Robinson and Joe Frazier on Broad Street and Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton on Walnut Street. He unveiled his latest work last week: a mural in Northeast Philly celebrating the second Super Bowl victory.
“There’s great stories in sports,” said McShane. “There’s a lot of compelling stuff. I also just love painting the figure in motion.”
McShane earned his master’s in fine arts at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, where he met Jane Golden, head of the city’s mural arts program, and immediately knew what he wanted to do.
“I could see myself working with everyday people making art together and transforming a neighborhood rather than being in an art gallery where mostly people who are wealthy or on the elite side would go,” he said.
Read more about David McShane and his incredible artwork in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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