My Sports Art In US Bank Stadium Art Collection

How the US Bank Stadium Art Collection Came to Life

Artist with the Minnesota Vikings painting of the “Purple People Eaters” in the Gold Suites lobby of the Norseman’s suites. 8 ft by 15 ft acrylic on canvas.

The painting is part of the US Bank Stadium's art collection, a space dedicated to celebrating the spirit of Minnesota and its love of football. It hangs in the Gold Suites lobby of the Norseman’s suites. While it’s technically a private area, sometimes the doors are left open just enough for a peek from the public area. That feels like a metaphor for art itself. You get a glimpse, and it invites you into a whole other world if you’re curious enough to look closer.

Painting the Legacy of the Purple People Eaters

Jim Marshall Minnesota Vikings “Purple People Eaters)

I thought about the painting when I watching the Minnesota Vikings playing this last weekend. I thought about my painting of the "Purple People Eaters" hanging in the US Bank Stadium. Eight feet by twelve feet, bold acrylic strokes telling the story of some of the greatest Vikings players. And me? I’m standing in that same building, sharing the moment with none other than Jim Marshall himself, the legendary defensive lineman from the Vikings’ golden era.

Meeting Jim Marshall: A Surreal Moment

Meeting Jim was something else. The guy played 19 seasons, from 1961 to 1979, and he still carries that larger-than-life energy. He autographed a page from a book featuring my painting during the stadium's art collection opening. There I was, an artist who grew up sketching game plays on napkins, standing beside a man who lived those plays. Surreal.

Jim Marshall told me my painting captured the spirit of the Purple People Eaters. I will carry his compliment forever. It reminded me why I do this. I I do not just to paint what people see, but to show them what they might have missed.

Behind the Brush: Creating a Tribute to Football

When I started that painting, I wasn’t thinking about fame or legacy. It was about emotion, movement, and the raw energy of those four iconic players: Carl Eller, Alan Page, Gary Larsen, and Jim Marshall. I wanted people to feel the power of the line, not just see it. Thick strokes for strength, layered color for depth.

So if you ever get a chance to visit US Bank Stadium, take a look around. You might spot my work, or at least the energy behind it.