LeBron James 'Space Jam' mural artist in Akron tapped to create second piece on UA campus

Disappointment has turned to triumph for an aspiring artist.

After a vandal in July defaced her large "Space Jam"-inspired LeBron James mural in Akron, the community rallied around Copley artist Chardae Slater.

A vandal, who has not been caught, painted the words "LA FLOP" and painted a clown nose on the NBA star's image.

Supporters raised money to help her buy supplies to repair the mural on the front of a West Market Street business not far from James' alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Vincent High School, and the I Promise School he helped found for at-risk Akron schoolchildren.

Slater said another donor even stepped forward to help apply a special coating on the mural that features the NBA superstar and stars from the Looney Tunes universe.

But the biggest surprise was yet to come.

Moved by her story and the artwork, Slater said, James' folks have reached out to her and have commissioned her to create a second mural in Akron. This one will be located inside of his Foundation's I Promise Institute on the University of Akron campus. It's a place where students in the program can go for assistance.

The buzz created by the first mural reached all the way to Hollywood, where even the studio and James himself took notice.

The mural — across from the VanDevere car dealership at the intersection of South Valley Street — is believed to be the first dedicated to James in his hometown.

Slater, 24, who graduated from Copley in 2015, said she has taken a break from her senior year at Kent State and has been working on her artwork and some private exhibitions.

As for the new mural, she said, she already has some ideas about what she'd like to create.

"I don't want to give it away just yet," she said. "I want everyone to be surprised."

Work on the latest creation could begin within a week.

"This will be something for the students to walk by and be inspired by," Slater said. "I'm excited. I think everyone will like it."

Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com.