Mural rendering of the raquetball court’s east-facing wall

ST. LOUIS, MO – Joseph Mueller, a St. Louis-based artist known for large-scale figurative work, has been selected to install a mural in Forest Park. Mueller will paint the public art piece on all four exterior walls of the racquetball court facility adjacent to the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center, the handball courts and the Nicholas J. Booker Basketball Courts (“The Nick”).

The mural will be visible from the adjacent walking and cycling paths and nearby Grand Drive and Lindell Boulevard, as well as by users of the courts, the Visitor Center and the Variety Wonderland Playground. The installation will be the first of its kind in the Park and transform approximately 3,270 square feet of currently unfinished concrete.

Mueller’s well-known murals in the region include Dreams Do Come True (2025), Plant Love and Grow Happiness (2024), A Little Bird Told Me (2023) and The Judgement of Paris (2022).

Incorporating public art was a common request from community members during planning for the basketball courts, which opened next to the handball and racquetball courts in 2024. Responding to this community input, Forest Park Forever, the City of St. Louis Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry, the City of St. Louis Board of Public Service and the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis convened in 2025 on how to incorporate public art into the sports court area.

They formed an Art Selection Committee, selected a site for the mural, and defined project goals, and in fall 2025, a nationwide call was issued for artists to propose a unique mural that would:

Engage visitors to The Nick and sports courts with a lively and engaging artwork that underscores the importance of community, camaraderie and sportsmanship.
Reflect the spirit of how sports and recreation have the power to bring people together.
Be accessible and welcoming to all Park users.
Capture the excitement and energy of play.
Add color and vibrancy to the area around The Nick and sports courts.
Foster a sense of pride in St. Louis and Forest Park.

“This part of the Park is a lively hub of community activity and tourism,” said City of St. Louis Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Director Greg Hayes. “It’s a great location for a St. Louis-made feature that will evoke joy for visitors.”

The tornado that struck on May 16, 2025, removed the majority of trees in front of the mural site, making the unpainted concrete walls of the racquetball courts even more visible.

“We are excited by the prospect of public art brightening this space,” said Forest Park Forever President and Executive Director Lesley S. Hoffarth. “Its impact will be even greater after seeing how the tornado altered the landscape and exposed the walls of the courts.”

The Art Selection Committee reviewed 87 applicants’ qualifications and portfolios and selected three artists to advance to the design concept proposal phase. More than 500 community members provided feedback on the three finalists’ design concepts, which were available for review online and displayed in the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center in Forest Park and at several locations throughout the City of St. Louis.

The committee considered public input, selected Mueller’s design and worked with the artist to refine the original concept. Mural installation will begin this summer with an expected completion date and formal celebration later this year.

“I've been visiting Forest Park my whole life,” Mueller said. “It's an honor to contribute to the artwork and atmosphere here. I hope the work inspires others to pursue their own creative journeys."

Joseph Mueller, a local artist, using a can of spray paint to complete a mural — Joseph Mueller

About the Artist

Joseph Mueller is a St. Louis-based artist known for large-scale figurative work that blends classical influences with contemporary color and composition. His murals emphasize monumental scale, visual clarity and symbolic imagery to engage viewers from afar and up close. His bold, timeless works designed for shared public spaces can be found throughout the St. Louis region.

About Handball, Racquetball and Basketball in Forest Park

Handball has a rich St. Louis history. The game has been played recreationally and competitively in the Park since the early 1900s when Dwight Davis (the Davis Cup in tennis is in his honor) was the Parks Commissioner and a strong proponent of bringing sports and active recreation to community green spaces. By 1929, there were two handball courts in Forest Park. Today, handball continues to be a popular sport with a total of four courts in the mural project site area.

Racquetball courts joined the mix in the 1960s, just as the sport was gaining in popularity across the United States. Today there are four courts that sit adjacent to the handball courts and basketball courts. These amenities draw tens of thousands of visits each year.

In 2024, the first-ever basketball courts in Forest Park replaced an old blacktop pad and turf just north of the racquetball courts. The opening of two full courts and two half-courts was the culmination of years of planning by the Parks Department and Forest Park Forever, in consultation with the Forest Park Advisory Board (a group including St. Louis public officials and citizens), and following community engagement with over 2,000 St. Louisans.