Eugenia Mello, an illustrator known for her vibrant, movement-focused artwork, has been commissioned to create the official poster for the 2026 U.S. Open tennis tournament, which begins Saturday in New York City. Mello, who was born in Peru and raised in Costa Rica and Venezuela before moving to New York in 2015, brings a distinctive energetic style shaped by her immigrant experience and long-standing fascination with capturing motion.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) selected Mello’s design from more than 200 submissions. Carrie Ehorn, director of Pro Tennis Marketing for the U.S. Open, contacted Mello directly rather than through a traditional open call, citing the illustrator’s dynamic use of color and the way her work reflects the energy of New York City as key factors. The final poster features a tennis court set against the iconic New York skyline and underwent 23 revisions, ultimately hewing closely to Mello’s original concept.
Mello, 38, has developed her signature style over more than a decade, often depicting figures in motion with vivid, boisterous colors. She credits her artistic approach to influences such as Italian Futurism and a deep engagement with the rhythms of urban life, particularly in immigrant communities. The bright palette reflects her upbringing in Latin America, where vibrant hues are an intrinsic part of daily life.
Beyond the tournament’s traditional promotional materials, Mello’s artwork will be displayed across New York City, including on an ice cream truck, as well as integrated into tennis-themed video games available at Hudson Yards during the event and on home consoles throughout the year. This marks a new approach by the USTA, aiming to bring the tournament’s spirit to a wider audience through multiple interactive platforms.
Mello also will be the first artist to create live murals at the U.S. Open grounds starting August 24 and later at Hudson Yards on August 30, offering spectators a rare glimpse into the creative process behind the tournament’s visual identity.
Reflecting on the project and her personal journey, Mello spoke about overcoming challenges, including a brief youth tennis career cut short by a coach’s criticism, and embracing the diverse cultural influences that inform her work. Her artistic philosophy centers on preserving the vitality of initial ideas through collaboration, while maintaining the original energy that inspired the piece. For Mello, the tournament’s theme of “Celebrating Our New York Story” resonates deeply with her own narrative as an immigrant artist finding expression in the city’s dynamic environment.
Through her work, Mello hopes to convey a sense of energy and human connection, inviting viewers to feel the vibrancy and hope embedded in her images. She also draws inspiration from figures like Argentine filmmaker Lucrecia Martel, who emphasizes the importance of embracing cultural differences, including the accents and identities that shape individual stories. For Mello, expressing these facets of identity is central to her creative vision and personal growth.