Melissa Koby Named First Black US Open Theme Artist

• Jamaican-born artist Melissa Koby has made history as the first Black artist selected to create theme art for the US Open.
• The 2025 tournament theme, "75 Years of Breaking Barriers," honors tennis legend Althea Gibson.

Honoring Althea Gibson's Legacy

• Althea Gibson became the first Black player to compete in the U.S. National Championships (now the US Open) in 1950, paving the way for future stars like the Williams sisters and Coco Gauff.
• Koby created the piece by drawing emotional parallels between Gibson's struggles and the life of her own late grandmother, who endured personal hardship while maintaining grace and faith.
• The artwork features layered profiles of Gibson against a US Open-blue court, incorporating iconic symbols like the Statue of Liberty, Arthur Ashe Stadium, and the Tiffany trophy.

Artistic Approach

• Koby utilizes a signature style featuring layered paper and faceless figures, prioritizing representational focus over individual physical appearance.
• Her transition from digital art to physical media, specifically using a laser cutter, helped solidify her unique creative process.
• She aims to capture the "grace and uprightness" characteristic of Caribbean women to honor the heritage of her subjects.

Looking Ahead

• While she recognizes the historic nature of her selection, Koby remains focused on highlighting Gibson's role as the "blueprint" for Black women in tennis.
• She encourages others to pursue their passions regardless of initial societal pressure to follow traditional career paths like law or medicine.
• Koby aims to scale her work for larger gallery spaces and hopes to see her US Open art displayed as a life-sized installation.