New Art in Forest Park

Mural at the sports courts: introducing the finalists

When facilitating community engagement during the planning for the Nicholas “Nick” J. Booker Basketball Courts, a theme emerged around the possibility of incorporating public art into the space. The seed to incorporate public art at the sports courts near the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center was officially planted when presenting this community feedback to the design team, the City of St. Louis, Forest Park Forever, the Forest Park Advisory Board.

In winter 2025, the City of St. Louis – Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry and Board of Public Service, Forest Park Forever and The Regional Arts Commission met to define a process for incorporating public art into the court sports area. By late spring, a selection committee was formed, a site was selected—the racquetball courts to serve as a canvas for a mural— and project goals were defined.

In early fall 2025, Forest Park Forever and the City of St. Louis released a local and nationwide Call for Artists to design and install a unique mural in Forest Park. Over 85 artists applied. The public art selection committee reviewed applicant qualifications and their portfolios and selected 3 dynamic artists—Moses Ball, Joseph Mueller and Beau Stanton—to advance in the process.

  • Missouri-based artist Moses Ball creates large-scale murals, mosaics and fine artworks that center community heroes, activists and everyday people. Raised in South Central Los Angeles and holding a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, his work brings visibility to stories often overlooked through vibrant, powerful imagery rooted in place and lived experience. Moses has completed notable commissions for high-profile clients such as, Central Bank Sporting Complex of Kansas City, MO, Nike, The Los Angeles Lakers, The NFL, Department of Cultural Affairs, LA Count Arts and Culture, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Chicago Public Art Group, University of Florida, UCLA, USC and LA Metro.

  • Joseph Mueller is a St. Louis-based mural 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 designed to engage viewers both from a distance and up close. With nearly a decade of experience creating public art, his work can be found throughout St. Louis and the surrounding region, where he continues to focus on bold, timeless imagery for shared public spaces.

  • Working as an artist over the past 20 years, Beau Stanton has developed a unique visual language informed by historic layers, natural patterns and universal symbols. While employing these elements he seeks to draw parallels between past narratives and contemporary topics such as environmental conservation, acknowledging the past while looking toward the future, and democratizing access to art through public spaces. These ideas manifest in his work through different mediums including painting, mosaic, stained glass, animation and most notably, murals. Stanton has created nearly 75 public artworks in over 25 cities across 16 countries.

The mural will be executed in the spring of 2026.

Next step: public review and comments

Please click here to review each artist’s design concept and share your thoughts. Your comments and insights will be shared with the Art Selection Committee. As you review, consider:

  • How does the concept create a welcoming atmosphere and underscore the importance of community, camaraderie, sportsmanship and pride?

  • What makes the concept visually compelling, engaging and unique?

  • What other strengths or weaknesses do you see in the concept?

Check back for a list of pop-up engagement sessions that will take place across the City of St. Louis this winter.

Project Goals

The selection committee's goals for the racquetball courts in Forest Park to serve as a canvas for a mural.

  1. Engage visitors to the Nick and sports courts with a lively and engaging artwork that underscores the importance of community, camaraderie and sportsmanship.

  2. Reflect the spirit of how sports and recreation have the power to bring people together.

  3. Be accessible and welcoming to all Park users.

  4. Capture the excitement and energy of play.

  5. Add color and vibrancy to the area.

  6. Foster community and a sense of pride.

Selection Committee

The selection committee is comprised of individuals representing the following organizations:

City of St. Louis – Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry

Forest Park Advisory Board

Forest Park Forever

Missouri Historical Society

PNC

Saint Louis Art Museum

Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts – Washington University

The Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis (RAC)

Whereas Hoops

In fall 2025, Forest Park Forever and the City of St. Louis released a local and nationwide Call for Artists to design and install a unique mural in Forest Park.

Call for Artists

Complete submissions were due in September 2025. Three (3) finalists were paid a stipend of $3,000 to develop a concept design for this opportunity. The budget for the final mural is not to exceed $115,000 and it will be executed in the spring of 2026.  Click the Call for Artists image below to open the pdf in a new window.