Courtside Culture. Fabiola Rivera Brings Her Culture to the Court
Presented by Moments Media, TA98’s Digital Storytelling Division
Written & Photo by Araceli Ramirez
Page design by David Rojas Jr.
As the crowd’s energy rose and the court lights dimmed, Fabiola Rivera watched from her seat as Skye the Lioness ran across the floor in a jersey she designed.
The deep-blue piece featured a radiant central figure framed by winglike patterns in yellow — her reimagining of a Mesoamerican warrior in motion. Created for Hispanic and Latin Heritage Month, the design was a symbol of strength and identity that connected her roots to the game.
Moments later, a group of young girls recognized her in the stands. “They told me they loved it,” Rivera said. “I saw myself in them. It reminded me of being five years old, discovering art for the first time.”
Originally from Mexico City, Rivera started creating art before she could even spell her name. As a child, she attended art classes and watched her neighbor paint murals across nearby walls. Those afternoons sparked her curiosity. “I saw how art transformed space,” she recalls. “It made me want to do the same.”
Her curiosity led her to the Universidad Tecnológica de México, where she studied design, animation, and digital art. Surrounded by peers devoted to urban art, Rivera realized she belonged outside the studio, painting with the community. “There came a time when I had to decide if I wanted to work in an office or make art,” she said. “I started helping friends paint murals and learning the technique little by little. That’s when I knew this was my path.”
Her artistic voice blends vibrant color, symbolism, and surrealism, drawing on both contemporary design and ancestral influence. From ancient motifs to digital illustration, her work speaks through movement, color, and identity. Rivera’s style balances imagination with heritage, a language that continues to evolve in Chicago’s creative scene.
Rivera’s collaboration with the Chicago Sky came through an Instagram connection that introduced her to the team’s marketing staff.
The project was part of the Skytown Series, a collection of limited-edition giveaways designed by local artists. Her jersey, created for the Hispanic and Latin Heritage Night soccer jersey giveaway, was distributed to fans as a celebration of Latino artistry and storytelling.
To design the piece, Rivera drew inspiration from the ancient ballgame, one of the earliest sports in the Americas and a historical predecessor to basketball. She discovered that women, too, played and fought.
“I wanted to connect that history with the sport of today,” she said. “There are records of women who played too. That inspired me — the idea of strength and courage reflected in today’s athletes.”
The final design combines the Chicago Sky basketball net with traditional patterns, creating a dialogue between past and present. At its center, the warrior figure represents resilience and unity, honoring both early players and the women leading on the court today.
For Rivera, seeing the jersey worn across the arena was a full-circle moment. “When I saw girls come up to me, excited and proud, that was everything,” she said. “It made me think about that little girl in Mexico City who started painting at five and realize I’m living what she dreamed of.”
