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Over the past year, TCU has honored several of its leaders/alum with a series of murals that adorned buildings in such cities as New York City, Los Angeles, Nashville and Chicago. The latest and last mural in this ongoing series was unveiled recently on the corner of Lubbock Avenue and Berry Street, here in Fort Worth.
For those of you not familiar with the mural series, it’s a part of TCU’s national awareness campaign supporting its 150th anniversary “Lead On: Celebrating 150 Years of TCU.” The first four murals in the series spotlighted John Devereaux ’12 of Hamilton; Katherine Beattie ’08, a producer/writer for NCIS and wheelchair athlete; Desmond Bane ’20, an NBA player for the Memphis Grizzlies and youth advocate; and four health care professionals, including Dr. McKenna Chalman ’19, ’23; Emma Joy ’21; Dr. Courtney Sullivan ’17; and Dr. Brandon Zsigray ’14.
This latest artistic offering, however, celebrates more than one individual.
This newly revealed mural highlights a collective leadership narrative that encompasses all TCU students far and wide, according to a release. This new canvas was created by TCU graduate and former TCU ArtOrg President Natalie Neale. This art piece encourages Horned Frogs and visitors to participate by posing in front of the physical mural or using a digital filter to “muralize” themselves, wherever they may live.
“There are so many amazing leadership stories in our community, it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to choose one person to highlight for this particular mural,” says Tracy Syler-Jones, vice chancellor for marketing and communication. “Inviting community participation will uncover stories that illustrate how we are leading on together for the greater good.”
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As TCU turns its focus to the next 150 years, the mural features monarch butterflies, symbols of transformation, and mockingbirds representing freedom and infinite possibilities. Central to the design is the motif of a “ripple effect,” where the impact of one person can spread out in all directions like water ripples, impacting others and ultimately the whole world, Neale explained.
In addition to Frog Fountain, the mural features other iconic TCU details, such as tulips, the Brown-Lupton University Union, ivy from Moudy Hall and of course — the horned frog. It also incorporates TCU collegiate cheers like "Fear the Frog," "Riff Ram," and the headline, "Dream Big. Be Bold. Lead On."
Neale, who graduated from TCU with a degree in painting in May 2023, was tapped to create the new mural.
“In celebration of TCU's 150th year, I wanted to create a design that conveyed what it means to be a part of something larger than yourself. I reflected on my own experience and what this place has meant to me,” Neale says. “I graduated from TCU feeling a strong desire to make a difference in the world, as a way to honor how all the people I connected with at TCU had left a mark on me forever.”
