A colorful new mural has appeared at the corner of South Broad and Alter streets in South Philadelphia, celebrating the Philadelphia Eagles‘ participation in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9.
Designed by artist Tiff Urquhart and commissioned by Mural Arts Philadelphia, the new mural contains an upright eagle surrounded by vibrant colors and patterns. The background includes a patchwork of Xs, Os, and arrows hinting at a football playbook’s diagrams.
“I wanted to incorporate some chaotic energy — not in a bad way, but to match the city and the fans,” Urquhart said in an interview with CBS News Philadelphia. “The bold colors and patterns represent the energetic feel of the city, while the eagle embodies the focused, concentrated drive the Eagles need for this huge game.”
Ciara Strickland, who lives in the building above the mural, described the artwork’s impact on the neighborhood.
“It brings the city together,” she told CBS News Philadelphia. “It’s the brotherly love. We love football, but we also love what Philadelphia means.”
Conrad Benner, a curator and project manager with Mural Arts Philadelphia, believes the mural expertly captures the city’s dynamic personality. “It’s exciting to see how people connect to it,” he said. “We’re just reflecting the city back to ourselves.” According to Benner, mural projects like this can generally take up to two years, but Urquhart’s mural moved much more quickly.
The new mural joins almost 4,000 others across the city, adding to the tapestry of Philadelphia’s story of resilience and support for its home team. Go Birds!