A year-long mural campaign showcasing TCU alumni serving as leaders across the country ended with a new mural on campus.
This mural, located on Lubbock Avenue just north of West Berry Street, is the finale of a five-mural series that began in New York City and continued to Los Angeles, Nashville and Chicago.
“While we were eager to showcase how Horned Frogs are making an impact nationwide and globally, we always wanted to end the campaign here on campus with a mural that allowed the campus community to be part of TCU’s story,” Kris Copeland, creative director for marketing and communication, said.
Campus landmarks such as Frog Fountain, common phrases such as ‘Riff Ram’ and symbols for the future such as mockingbirds are incorporated into the mural.
“Central to the design is the motif of the ‘ripple effect,’ where the impact of one person can spread out in all directions like water ripples, touching others and ultimately the world,” Copeland said. “This concept is near and dear to Horned Frogs, as the flow of waters in Frog Fountain similarly represents how TCU students impact each other, spreading knowledge from one class to the next.”
Natalie Neale, who graduated from TCU in 2023 with a studio art degree, was chosen to design the mural at the recommendation of a professor from the College of Fine Arts.
She developed the ‘ripple effect’ idea this summer while spending a day at the pool.
“I remember I looked at the water and saw how it rippled in the sunlight,” Neale said. “I immediately knew how to symbolically convey what it means to be a part of TCU’s legacy.”
Neale said she looks forward to seeing how people react and interact with her design now that it has come to life on campus.
“I want students to be able to picture themselves as a part of the mural, metaphorically and physically,” Neale said. “Even the smallest ripples you create make a huge impact on people’s lives.”