New Murals and Light Shows Are Illuminating New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX
In the heart of New Orleans’ Central Business District, walls once overlooked are now bursting with life, thanks to a sweeping public art initiative ahead of Super Bowl LIX. What was once a sea of beige buildings and concrete facades has become a vibrant visual tribute to the city’s spirit, culture, and people.
Among the most striking new additions is The Welcoming Committee, a 120-foot-long mural by local artist Annie Moran. Painted on the side of a parking garage on Girod Street, just steps away from the Caesars Superdome and Smoothie King Center, the mural is impossible to miss — and even harder to forget.
A Mural That Greets the World
The mural is a towering celebration of New Orleans’ defining traits: hospitality, heritage, and artistic flair. Though the exact height is hard to pin down — Moran estimates around 50 to 60 feet tall — the impact is clear from blocks away.
At its center is a powerful figure: Queen Elenora Rukiya Brown, a Black Masking Indian Queen, arms outstretched in welcome. Moran calls Brown her “muse” and “matriarch,” and has painted her three times throughout her career. Brown, a renowned artist in her own right who beads intricate suits for Mardi Gras, serves here as a symbol of the city’s legacy of strength, creativity, and hospitality.
Surrounding her are other familiar icons: a chef in classic whites, energetic dancers, and local touches that make the mural unmistakably New Orleans.
More Than Just Game Day
While the mural was timed to coincide with the city’s hosting of Super Bowl LIX, its purpose extends far beyond a single sporting event. Commissioned by the Arts Council of New Orleans and funded by the Helis Foundation, The Welcoming Committee is designed to be a lasting piece of public art — one that reflects the soul of the city while inviting others in.
Moran says the directive was clear from the beginning: the mural should serve as a cultural ambassador, welcoming both Super Bowl guests and future visitors alike. But more than that, it’s a love letter to New Orleans itself.
“Hospitality is just a cornerstone of our culture,” Moran said. “It’s not just the hotels and the food — it’s the arts. That’s why so many people come here. They feel it. They feel welcome.”
A Super Bowl Boost for Local Artists
This year’s Super Bowl has sparked an unprecedented wave of investment in public art across the city. Dozens of murals have emerged, created by local heavyweights like Brandan “BMIKE” Odums, Carl Joe Williams, and Patrick Henry, among others. The initiative has brought both visibility and financial support to New Orleans’ art community.
For Moran, it’s been a defining moment. Known more for her interior mural work, this project marks her highest-profile endeavor yet — and her first major exterior mural. The scale and visibility of The Welcoming Committee have opened new doors and challenged her creatively in ways she never expected.
“I had to at least try,” she said. “I knew this was an opportunity I couldn’t say no to.”
A Lasting Legacy in Paint
As crowds pour into the city for the Super Bowl, many will pass Moran’s mural without knowing her name or the story behind it. But they’ll feel what she hoped to convey — the warmth, the welcome, the unmistakable energy of New Orleans. Long after the game ends and the stadium lights dim, The Welcoming Committee will remain, arms open, inviting everyone to feel at home in the Crescent City.