With the New York Knicks zeroing in on an Eastern Conference semifinal series victory, the artist known as Kaysuane made an announcement.
“If they go to the finals, there’s gonna be another mural out there,” he said last month.
An exciting part about the Knicks’ postseason is that multiple players have had highlight moments. And with the moments come new opportunities for artists like the East Harlem-based Kaysuane to make a memory around the boroughs.
Kaysuane has put together two murals during the Knicks’ spectacular run through the playoffs. The latest is located in New York Midtown, between 30th Street and 31st Street and 8th Avenue, depicting Jalen Brunson as the “King of the East,” with NBA guards Trae Young, Tyrese Maxey and James Harden bowing to the throne. Next to the image is a Larry O’Brien championship trophy with the Knicks logo drawn over it.
A Game 3 loss in the NBA Finals hasn’t taken the spirit from Kaysuane or the New York City basketball fans. Wednesday night is expected to be electric in and around Madison Square Garden, as the Knicks look to return to their winning ways against a San Antonio Spurs team that silenced the crowd on Monday.
As the Knicks’ run for their first title since 1973 progresses, Kaysuane, a New York sports fan to the core, said he finds instant artistic inspiration with certain plays. Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, on the corner of 30th Street and 8th Avenue, was immortalized when he dunked over Joel Embiid during the East semifinal series against the Philadelphia 76ers.
That moment immediately became a meme, which led to an easy decision for Kaysuane to begin painting.
“When it comes to my art, sometimes it’s a feeling,” Kaysuane said. “I could just wake up every day and do something creative, but I’m not always in love with it. But then there’s a moment that happens where you’re like, ‘This has to get done. Like, this has to be it.’
“The Mitchell dunk was definitely one of those moments.”
Kaysuane, who has been making murals since 2023, has made a larger name for himself over the last two years with his sports-related artwork. His “El Barrio” brand isn’t just about murals. It encompasses music, clothing and art. Around 2015, Kaysuane focused his artistic interests into the music world, using his visuals to help his brother’s hip-hop group.
Lately, it’s been the 34-year-old’s Knicks presentations that have gone from mural to merchandise by way of his website.
“Being from Harlem, I’m definitely a big fan of hip-hop. I’m definitely a fan of sports,” Kaysuane said. “I just feel like New York City culture, in general, is very vast, but hip-hop and sports is very big over here. Being a young kid from Harlem, I kind of embody that.”
Kaysuane said he was about 15 or 16 years old when he lost interest in art; seven or eight years later, that passion found him again. He has previous experience in creating cover art and teaching himself how to use tools like Photoshop. He has shot videos and also has worked as a manager.
Additionally, Kaysuane said he has created drawings in sketchbooks — but only in the last few years has his work made it to walls for murals.
“A girl that I used to date asked me to do a mural for her,” Kaysuane said. “I told her that I don’t do murals, and she was like, ‘You gonna tell me no?’
“I was like, ‘You know what … I’m not.’”
Kaysuane then reached out to his friend, Amar Bennett, an artist who does murals, for guidance on how to get started. Bennett led him to Uptown Grand Central, a Harlem-based nonprofit that hires artists to paint murals.
The Grandscale Mural Project doesn’t seek out famous artists, according to Casey King, director of Uptown Grand Central. She said when Kaysuane submitted his portfolio for the project, it was evident he was talented.
“His work roots for the Knicks, and we were rooting for him,” King said.
East Harlem-based Kaysuane has been creating murals around New York since 2023. (Photo courtesy of Kaysuane)
He contributed to the project in 2023 and 2025, both painted on 125th Street. His 2023 contribution was an ode to Knicks fans, with him holding the Larry O’Brien trophy and wearing a 2024 NBA world champions hat. The 2025 piece, he said, was dedicated to the women of New York. He painted the Statue of Liberty mimicking the famous Marilyn Monroe scene from “The Seven Year Itch,” as she tries to hold her skirt following a breeze from a subway grate.
The goal of the nonprofit is to provide a platform for artists to get more work. Kaysuane’s growth, however, is not just about the project, King said.
“He’s hustling,” King said. “He’s all over the city doing stuff. It’s not just a result of our project, but he really works hard. He puts in the work, and he collaborates with a lot of different organizations and other artists. It’s great to see him out there, and he’s obviously got a lot of talent to share.”
Murals and graffiti art have long been associated with New York. Graffiti is considered one of the five pillars of hip-hop, making it important to the birthplace of the culture. Graffiti, however, is not legal; artists wanting to share their work in public spaces must do so with permission.
“I used to do graffiti growing up, but I ended up getting in trouble with the graffiti stuff. and I kind of lost my passion for art after that,” Kaysuane said.
Not only has he regained that passion, but he is now using his talents to help showcase the Knicks’ first finals appearance since 1999. Adding artwork to the city that simply shows his name has been a bonus. His first Knicks piece that got widespread attention involved singer/actor Marc Anthony wearing a Carmelo Anthony jersey, dubbed “Marcelo Anthony,” on 3rd Avenue.
Kaysuane loves incorporating his pride in East Harlem in his piece. Marc Anthony grew up in East Harlem.
“Marc Anthony in the Melo jersey started going crazy because it didn’t look like Carmelo,” Kaysuane said. “A bunch of people were confused, but ultimately it got a lot of attention.”
Last year’s “I Hart NY” painting on 32nd Street gained attention, as it featured Knicks guard Josh Hart’s bloodied face from a 2025 playoff game against the Boston Celtics.
This year, it’s Mitchell’s dunk. And Brunson’s throne.
“Once I started doing murals, I liked to choose walls that are damaged with just a bunch of chicken-scratch graffiti,” Kaysuane said. “Just add some color and bring some beauty and neighborhood pride.”
His work has grown well beyond Harlem. Last December, he painted a mural in Miami. His Robinson piece was shown during ESPN’s playoff telecast, and Robinson reposted the mural on social media.
Kaysuane said he hasn’t met any of the Knicks he’s painted, but he likes knowing they have seen the work.
“I love what I do … but I would also like for it to be intentional,” he said. “I would want it to contribute to the community rather than destroy the community. Actually doing it and getting love for it is beautiful. I love what I do, and other people love what I do, too, so that just makes it that much better.”