Over the past few years you may have noticed more and more murals popping up across the streets of Atlanta and its surrounding suburbs. Though artists have been active in hidden pockets of Atlanta for decades (the iconic Krog Street Tunnel is an example of a once little-known gem), the presence of community art non-profits and outdoor enhancement initiatives have quickly established our city as a street art powerhouse.
Over 100 of the city’s murals are a result of Living Walls – a non-profit that powers public art through yearly city-wide conferences. Attended by over 5,000 artists each year, the Living Wall conferences have brought some of the world’s most influential muralists to the streets of Atlanta. Currently focused on the Buford Highway corridor, Living Walls’ goal is to “bring life to neglected spaces”.
Similar to Living Walls, the OuterSpace Project has set out to merge public art, live music, design, action sports and culture in the Atlanta community. Since 2015, they have done just that through annual event weeks that engage the public through urban beautification and creativity”. Murals are the core of these event weeks, and as a result Atlanta has gained more breathtaking street art year after year. You can view pictures of each year’s work on the OuterSpace recap pages, as well as art from other events across the nation.
Thanks to the Super Bowl, Atlanta saw another 30 mural additions in 2018 alone. The Off the Wall project used community engagement and public art to highlight Atlanta’s civil rights and social justice journey. This impressive project is showcased on the Off the Wall website, where details of the artists and murals are given in addition to the community conversations and partnerships that have evolved as a result of the movement.
Of course, nothing can beat viewing these massive works of art in person. But, navigating hundreds of murals across a city the size of Atlanta can be intimidating. To get a grasp on the mural locations, I recommend using the online Atlanta Street Art Map. This regularly updated site allows you to search murals by Atlanta neighborhoods, plan a self-guided walking tour, as well as learn more about the mural artists.
And while you’re out searching the streets for art, keep an eye out for Tiny Doors. An Atlanta-based art project that started back in 2014, Tiny Doors ATL has placed over a dozen 6-inch doors throughout the city. Though their small size does make them hard to spot, this detailed list of locations will guide you from tiny doorstep to tiny doorstep.