After one-and-a-half years in the making, Kirthana Selvaraj’s artwork celebrating the Matildas and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup has been unveiled.
The artist of Indian, Tamil ancestry has created a striking piece capturing the key players of the Australian women’s soccer team, who drew global attention during the tournament and helped contribute to record TV ratings, live crowds and a reshaping of the narrative around women in sport.
Featuring the likes of Sam Kerr, Mackenzie Arnold and Courtney Vine, the vibrant artwork will now be transformed into a 57-metre-long immersive mural that extends across the exterior of Accor Stadium’s Cathy Freeman Stand – a fitting venue given Accor Stadium is celebrating 25 years since the 2000 Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Matildas’ semi-final match against England during the 2023 Women’s World Cup became the most-watched television program since 2001, reaching 11.15 million Australians nationally.
Selvaraj dedicated the artwork to the trailblazing achievements of the Matildas, as well as the “enduring legacy” of many women in sport over time.
“It has been an honour to create this painting commemorating the Matildas during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup,” she said in an official press statement.
“Women in sport have always been a vital part of the game’s history, and this work is a celebration of their enduring legacy.
“Through this piece, I hoped to capture not only the strength and grace of the Matildas but also the unyielding spirit and unity they inspire in all of us.”
Selvaraj also highlighted the importance of acknowledging sport’s transformative power in establishing community, a sense of identity and joy – and the role women have in this.
“I hope this artwork stands as a permanent reminder of the impact women have made – and continue to make – not just on the field but in shaping the broader public’s connection to sport,” she said. “It’s a tribute to the trailblazers who came before, the athletes who shine today, and the young people who will carry their legacy forward.”
Sharing a highlights reel of the artwork’s unveiling in Sydney on February 5, Selvaraj shared with her Instagram fans: “An exciting day! We launched my painting, commissioned to commemorate the Matildas during their incredible journey in the 2023 Women’s FIFA World Cup”.
Also on hand to celebrate the moment were the likes of Matildas star Kyah Simon, as well as NSW Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Sport Steve Kamper.
“It’s long overdue that our nation’s inspirational female athletes are provided with recognition of some of the greatest sporting achievements in our nation’s history,” Premier Minns said in a press statement, with Minister Kamper adding, “The saying goes, you can’t be what you can’t see. It’s fair to say the Matildas World Cup campaign opened the eyes of a generation.
“The Matildas effect is still being felt today with more girls and women playing the game thanks to the team’s achievement at the Women’s World Cup,” said Kamper.
“This mural will forever celebrate the success of the Matildas who inspired us all.”
The mural will eventually be available for the public to view in April, as the team has two upcoming Sydney and Newcastle games that month at Allianz Stadium (April 4) and McDonald Jones Stadium (April 7).
Top photo source: Instagram/accorstadium
Leave a Reply