Melissa Koby’s Historic US Open Selection
Melissa Koby, a Jamaican-born artist now based in Florida, has been chosen as the first Black artist to design the official US Open theme art. Her work takes centre stage at the 2025 tournament, which opened on August 18.
This year’s theme, “75 Years of Breaking Barriers,” pays tribute to tennis legend Althea Gibson. Gibson was the first Black player to compete at the U.S. National Championships, now known as the US Open, in 1950. For Koby, the commission is not only a career milestone but also a deeply personal opportunity to honour Gibson’s journey through art.
She explained:
“When I looked at Althea’s story, how she had a rough start and faced so many racial barriers, I saw my grandmother in her. I poured those emotions into the art.”
Honouring Althea Gibson’s Legacy Through Art
Koby’s design layers Gibson’s silhouette against a US Open-blue court, surrounded by symbols like the Statue of Liberty, Arthur Ashe Stadium, and the Tiffany trophies awarded to champions. The composition tells a story of resilience, triumph, and cultural pride.
Althea Gibson paved the way for athletes such as Venus and Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, and Madison Keys. Koby wanted her artwork to reflect Gibson’s place as the foundation of Black excellence in tennis. “She’s the blueprint for Black women in tennis,” Koby emphasized.
Tournament fans can see Koby’s creation across the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, where posters and banners feature her artwork.
Jamaican Heritage at the Heart of Koby’s Work
Melissa Koby draws on her Jamaican identity to shape her artistic voice. She connects Gibson’s struggles with her grandmother’s own hardships back in Jamaica.
“My grandmother dropped out of school and never had the chance to fulfil her dreams,” Koby shared. “All she had was her kindness, her goodness, and her prayers. Every time I talk about Althea, I make those parallels. That helped me create with emotion.”
Koby’s art often focuses on women of colour, capturing their strength and grace through layered silhouettes and faceless figures. By leaving features undefined, she encourages viewers to see themselves in her work.
Artistry That Inspires the Next Generation
Although Koby never pursued tennis herself, she grew up inspired by Venus and Serena Williams. She wants her US Open piece to show children — especially Black and Caribbean youth — that their paths can be just as open.
“I want little Black girls, even little Jamaican girls, to know that this avenue is also open to them,” she said.
Koby’s journey into the spotlight came through persistence and innovation. Starting with stencil knives at home, she later invested in a laser cutter to refine her layered-paper art style. This creative approach eventually caught the attention of someone connected to the US Open.
Looking Ahead to Bigger Creations
Koby calls the US Open theme art the highlight of her career so far. Still, she has ambitions to scale her work. She hopes her US Open piece might one day appear as a life-sized installation.
“What’s bigger than the US Open theme art for me? I don’t think anything can top this!” she admitted. But she is determined to expand into gallery-sized work and reach wider audiences.
For now, her US Open theme ensures that Althea Gibson’s story, and the spirit of her Jamaican grandmother, are woven into the legacy of one of tennis’s greatest stages.
