Black History / Culture / Public Art
BLACK
MURALIST
Corey Barksdale is a Black muralist and public artist based in Atlanta, painting large-scale work that centers African American history, culture, and community — from civil rights icons to neighborhood histories that might otherwise go untold.
Rooted in history and culture
Murals that remember
From a City of Atlanta–commissioned mural tracing Blandtown's Black roots and displacement in West Midtown, to portraits of civil rights leaders and jazz greats, Corey's murals treat public walls as a place to hold history, honor community, and celebrate Black life in color.
Civil Rights Leaders
Nina Simone Mural
Urban Mural Woman
Public walls, real history.
Read the story behind the Blandtown / FIFA World Cup mural, a City of Atlanta commission honoring the neighborhood's Black roots, or the Pittman Park mural, a 2019 ELEVATE festival commission built around the civil rights slogan "I Am a Man."
Fine art, murals, and motion.
Beyond murals, Corey's paintings and illustrations explore African American life, music, spirituality, and everyday beauty — see the full Work gallery.
Open for public art and murals.
Available for city, community, and cultural-space commissions across Atlanta — see the full Atlanta murals gallery.
How it works
Commissioning African American history and culture murals
Cities, cultural institutions, schools, and community organizations can commission Corey directly for murals rooted in Black history, civil rights, and community memory.
Projects typically include a site visit, historical and community research, concept sketches, design approval, on-site painting, and a protective finish — the same process behind the Blandtown FIFA World Cup mural.
Helpful project answers
Frequently asked questions
What themes does Corey Barksdale explore as a Black muralist?
African American history, civil rights icons, neighborhood and community history, music, and everyday Black life are recurring themes across his murals and fine art.
Has Corey Barksdale painted murals honoring Black history in Atlanta?
Yes, including a City of Atlanta–commissioned mural in Blandtown tracing the neighborhood's Black roots and displacement, painted ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
Does he take commissions for civic or cultural organizations?
Yes. Cities, cultural institutions, and community organizations can commission public art and murals directly.
Is Corey Barksdale's work only murals?
No. He also creates fine art paintings and illustrations exploring African American life, spirituality, and history.
Work with Corey Barksdale
Bring this history to your wall
Cities, cultural institutions, and community organizations can reach out directly to start a project.