SAN ANTONIO – Artist Ray Scarborough is a lifelong Spurs fan and San Antonio native, and now his artwork will be showcased for the rest of Spurs nation to see.
Scarborough — who also goes by “Ray Tattooed Boy” on social media — created the illustration for the Spurs shirts that will be given to fans in attendance on opening night on Wednesday at the Frost Bank Center. His art reflects his love for his team and the city.
“This truly is a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to be an artist for the Spurs,” said Scarborough. “I’m born and raised in San Antonio, in love with all the San Antonio culture and the colors.”
Scarborough, 47, has been in the local art scene for years. His “Puro San Antonio Pop Art” has gained popularity for its connection to San Antonio neighborhoods, restaurants, businesses and staples like Whataburger and H-E-B.
“I keep it simple and have a lot of fun with it, especially with the pop art aspect. The city prints are probably my favorite ones because I like to showcase places that I grew up in, and it’s just fun to see other people react the same way,” said Scarborough. “I try to showcase the lesser-known areas but also the popular areas for us. It’s like tourist posters for the locals.”
The Spurs took notice of Ray’s work online and on social media. He worked on an illustration for a San Antonio FC match and then received a message he’ll never forget.
“The Spurs emailed me, and I thought it was a joke,” Scarborough said with a laugh. “They said, ‘We’re going to set up a meeting’ and reassured me it wasn’t a joke. They basically just said we want something for opening night, and we want it to be special.”
Scarborough originally came up with a Gregg Popovich and players-themed illustration. After discussions with the team, he decided to go another route and go back to his West Side roots.
“I showcased my old hood that I was from, Culebra Park on Ingram Road,” said Scarborough. “The taco stand that we used to go to and just put a lot of the elements that was from that neighborhood. It’s something everybody in San Antonio, I think, can relate to.”
Scarborough’s illustration also features the Spurs Coyote pushing a Paleta cart, fans honking after a big Spurs win, David Robinson’s old sneakers hanging from the telephone lines, and Pee-Wee Herman’s iconic bike. But it’s his nod to his late mother, Lala, that makes his design special.
“The best part of it was my mom’s name right there,” said Scarborough. “The reason why the Spurs are a great organization is because they allowed that to happen, and for an unknown artist like myself to draw their neighborhood and allow me to show my view of what a Spurs fan is.”
Like other Spurs fans, Scarborough is excited about the franchise’s future and honored to be a part of Spurs history with the start of Victor Wembanyama’s career.
“I was very honored that they got to let me do what I wanted to do as far as show my old neighborhood but also show elements of the Spurs family. It’s such an important day for us, for the city. It’s going to be a great day,” said Scarborough. “I hope I can relate to a lot of other people that see this, and I hope they like it.”
Click here for more information on Ray’s work.
Click here here for details on the Spurs’ opening night.
