A living chronicle on the walls of Allen Fieldhouse
John Martin, an artist from Kansas, began work on a 60‑foot mural in Allen Fieldhouse in 1979 after a request from coach Ted Owens. The piece was meant to capture the evolution of the university’s basketball tradition.
Over the decades the mural has grown into a collaborative timeline. Each successive coach — Larry Brown, Roy Williams, Bill Self, among others — added a new panel that blends seamlessly with Martin’s original vision. Players such as Clyde Lovellette, Jo Jo White, Danny Manning, Paul Pierce and Mario Chalmers appear alongside the coaches, their achievements etched in paint.
The artwork starts with the founding figure of basketball, James Naismith, and culminates with Bill Self’s 2022 national championship, creating a visual narrative that stretches across four decades of Kansas basketball.
The final panel was completed just as the mural had become more than decoration; it was a living archive that preserves the program’s milestones for fans and future generations.
On August 16, John Martin will be inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, an honor that reflects the cultural significance of his work. The Hall of Fame, accessible online at kansassportshalloffame.com, celebrates individuals who have shaped the state’s sports heritage.
Beyond the mural, Martin’s portfolio includes portraits of CEOs, military leaders and custom logos for a variety of organizations, demonstrating his versatility as a visual storyteller.