A Midwest Princess in Paint: Kansas City Fans Honor Chappell Roan

Kansas City is buzzing with excitement as our very own Midwest Princess returns to town—and now she’s larger than life on the side of a building. Ahead of Chappell Roan’s sold-out concerts on October 3rd and 4th, fans have honored her with a massive mural near Broadway and Valentine Road, right next to Hamburger Mary’s—the same spot where Chappell saw her very first drag show at just 18.

The piece is a collaboration between local artists Christine Riutzel and Jared Horman, who blend realism and graphic design into one striking image. Riutzel shared, “She has an iconic red lip. She tends to go for a white draggy type of face, so we want to implement that.” Horman added, “I’ve been obsessed with her skyrocket to fame and how it’s just incredible to see someone from small-town Missouri representing the queer community so well.”

Inspired by the artwork for Chappell’s single Subway, the mural captures her fiery red hair and unmistakable face, instantly recognizable even in early sketches. “There’s folks that are walking by and saying, ‘Is that Chappell Roan?’ And it’s just a really rough sketch right now, so that’s already super exciting,” Horman said.

Beyond the visual impact, the project carries deep meaning for both the artists and the community. “She represents a lot of us young creatives who care about marginalized groups of people like the LGBTQ community,” Riutzel explained. Horman echoed this sentiment: “It’s the queer joy really that she brings and the authenticity and representation.”

Seeing her image rise beside Hamburger Mary’s feels like a full-circle moment—tying Chappell’s first steps into queer nightlife with her triumphant return as a star headlining sold-out shows. As Horman put it, “Whenever she announced this show, it was just Kansas City, L.A. and New York, and I knew we needed to celebrate this because this is a really incredible moment.”

The concerts may be sold out, but this mural is for all of us: a love letter from Kansas City to the Midwest Princess who embodies queer pride, visibility, and joy.

Information and quotes in this article were sourced from KCTV5’s coverage.