San Antonio street artists Michael Sanchez, Bernardo Moreno Jr. and @jc_texas_art stand in front of their Spurs murals on Amols’ Party and Fiesta Store. Credit: Michael Karlis

A trio of San Antonio street artists are working to add color to a barren industrial area north of downtown by creating a “Mount Rushmore” of murals honoring current and past Spurs superstars and legends.

The project’s latest addition celebrates French phenom Victor Wembanyama and packs a lot of meaning into its imagery, artist Michael Sanchez told the Current.

The mural on the side of Amols’ Party and Fiesta Store, 227 Fredericksburg Road, features Wemby taking a selfie next to his 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year Trophy. Draped over the trophy’s base is the Olympic Silver Medal the 7-foor-3 power forward won playing for France last summer. A Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon — a purchase Wemby made with his first paycheck as a Spur — zooms across a background glittering with stars.

“It all has meaning to it,” said Sanchez, also known as @mikeysanchez3 on Instagram. “It’s our only major sports team, and they do a lot for the community. We’ve seen championships and tanking, but through it all, the Spurs are here for us, and we’re here for them.”

The trio wants to make its mural of Victor Wembanyama part of “Mount Rushmore” of Spurs heroes and legends. Credit: Michael Karlis

It took Sanchez, Bernardo Moreno Jr. and a third artist who goes by his online handle, @jc_texas_art, 30 hours to complete the mural. The three plan for it to be part of a larger series of side-by-side depictions that Spurs fans can visit to pay their respects.

“[Sanchez] and I grew up in this neighborhood, and it’s nice to see something like this in the area,” said Moreno, who shares his art online under the Instagram handle @bernardm28. “Most of it, when you drive through, it’s dark and gloomy or old graffiti. There’s nothing vibrant.”

The project now features two Spurs murals, the other being one of Gregg Popovich. Sanchez and @jc_texas_art completed completed their portrait of Pop to celebrate the Hall of Fame coach while he recovers from a stroke suffered in November.

With Wemby also out for the season due to a deep vein thrombosis and the owners of Amols’ wanting more artwork, it only seemed appropriate for the artists to get back to work after finishing their tribute to Popovich.

“All of us and Amols’ Party and Fiesta hope Wemby gets well soon,” Sanchez said.

SA sports fans can send Instagram direct messages any of the three artists to offer thoughts about which Spurs legend they should paint next.

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This article appears in Mar 19 – Apr 1, 2025.

Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...