Oklahoma City artist paints Thunder-themed window art for NBA playoffs

Melissa Griggs-Hendricks and her team return to spread excitement across the city

Apr. 11, 2026 at 12:52am

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An abstract, expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors, featuring dynamic brushstrokes and shapes that evoke the excitement and energy of basketball during the NBA playoffs.Colorful window art captures the electric energy of Oklahoma City's NBA playoff fever.Oklahoma City Today

As Oklahoma City prepares for the NBA playoffs, local artist Melissa Griggs-Hendricks and her assistant Candace are back to paint Thunder-inspired designs on windows across the city. Last year, they painted 157 locations in just two-and-a-half months, using around 25 gallons of paint. This year, they plan to double their output with even more designs to get the community excited for the playoffs.

Why it matters

Griggs-Hendricks' Thunder-themed window art has become a beloved tradition in Oklahoma City, bringing the community together and generating excitement around the NBA playoffs. Her vibrant, eye-catching designs help fuel the city's passion for the local team and create a sense of shared experience during the high-stakes postseason.

The details

Griggs-Hendricks and her team paint the Thunder-themed designs on windows throughout Oklahoma City, including at the KOCO newsroom. Last year, they completed 157 locations in just two-and-a-half months, using around 25 gallons of paint. This year, they plan to double their output with even more designs to get the community excited for the playoffs.

  • Last year, Griggs-Hendricks and her team painted 157 locations within a two-and-a-half-month span during the NBA playoffs.
  • This year, Griggs-Hendricks and her team plan to paint even more locations and designs to get the community excited for the playoffs.

The players

Melissa Griggs-Hendricks

A local Oklahoma City artist who creates Thunder-themed window art to generate excitement for the NBA playoffs.

Candace

Griggs-Hendricks' assistant who helps her paint the Thunder-inspired designs on windows across the city.

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What they’re saying

“Last year for the playoffs, within a two-and-a-half-month span, we painted 157 locations. Some of those were huge and some were small as one window.”

— Melissa Griggs-Hendricks, Artist

“It feels amazing to be back. I'm so excited. We just had such a great time last year, and I really miss this community of just getting to see everybody and just be a huge part of all the excitement for the playoffs.”

— Melissa Griggs-Hendricks, Artist

What’s next

Griggs-Hendricks and her team plan to paint even more Thunder-themed window designs across Oklahoma City this year, aiming to double their output from last season's 157 locations.

The takeaway

Melissa Griggs-Hendricks' annual tradition of creating vibrant, Thunder-inspired window art has become a beloved part of the Oklahoma City community's playoff experience, helping to unite fans and generate excitement around the local team's postseason run.