My name is Zane Statz, and I am an artist and muralist with deep roots in Wisconsin. I grew up in Sturgeon Bay in a family where creativity, problem-solving and small-business grit were part of everyday life. My mom was a tapestry artist when she was younger, but for as long as I have been alive she has owned and operated The Dancing Bear toy store. My dad was an engineer when he was younger, but throughout my life he has owned and operated the White Lace Inn. I inherited something from both sides. In high school, my dad let me spray-paint the family garage while my mom was away. I covered far more of it than anyone expected. Looking back, that was my first mural and an early sign that I was most comfortable thinking big.

I did not arrive at St. Norbert College knowing exactly what I wanted to become. I explored political science and biology before finding my place in the art department. Professor James Neilson noticed an experimental piece of mine in a student exhibition and encouraged me to keep pushing my work. His guidance and an art scholarship helped me commit to art seriously. I graduated in 2014 with a degree in graphic design and a minor in business administration. By my senior exhibition, nearly everything I was creating was at least four by eight feet. That was when I realized large surfaces were not intimidating to me. They were where my ideas felt most natural.

Soon after college, a homeowner near Lambeau Field found my portfolio and asked me to paint a 70-foot Packers fence and I completed the first mural in 2015. I am grateful that the fence introduced so many people to my work, but it also showed me that murals could become a real, sustainable practice. Since then, I have painted public and commissioned work for cities, parks, restaurants, breweries, nonprofits and businesses throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest. Some of the most meaningful projects have invited hundreds of people to help paint alongside me. I enjoy creating the design, but I also love giving people a way to become part of it.

My work on NFL cleats began in a similar way. After I painted a large portrait for Kenny Clark, he asked if I could try customizing cleats. I was willing to learn, and one pair gradually led to another through word of mouth. I have since painted game-worn cleats for players including Kenny Clark, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, TJ Slaton, Sean Clifford, Jaire Alexander, Darnell Savage and Rashan Gary. Some designs express a player’s personality, while others represent a charity through the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats program. Today, I move between large public walls and small wearable surfaces, but my purpose stays the same. I want to make thoughtful work that connects with people, belongs to its setting and leaves something meaningful behind.