Atlanta mural artist — City of Atlanta commission
A City of Atlanta–commissioned mural by Corey Barksdale honoring the history of the Blandtown neighborhood, painted ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
Public art and placemaking
Atlanta mural artist Corey Barksdale was commissioned by the City of Atlanta to paint a large-scale mural at the intersection of Northside Drive and 17th Street in West Midtown, honoring the history of Blandtown — one of Atlanta's earliest African American neighborhoods, founded after the Civil War by the formerly enslaved Bland family.
The mural traces Blandtown's story through imagery rooted in the neighborhood's working-class history, including the transportation industry that employed many residents and the stock car racing culture that took hold in the area — themes that connect the neighborhood's past to its everyday life.
The project is part of a citywide public art initiative under Mayor Andre Dickens to beautify Atlanta ahead of the FIFA World Cup, with murals installed across the city to welcome an international audience. The Blandtown mural has been featured in local and national coverage of Atlanta's World Cup public art program, recognizing Corey Barksdale as one of the city's leading muralists.
Photos of the finished Blandtown mural are being added to this page — check back soon, or see Corey Barksdale's full mural portfolio in the meantime.
Located at Northside Drive and 17th Street, the mural is one of the murals commissioned across Atlanta as part of the city's beautification effort ahead of the FIFA World Cup. It reflects Corey Barksdale's ongoing work as an Atlanta mural artist creating large-scale public art rooted in local history and community storytelling.
Helpful project answers
The mural is located at the intersection of Northside Drive and 17th Street in the West Midtown area of Atlanta, Georgia.
The City of Atlanta commissioned the mural to honor the history of the Blandtown neighborhood, founded by the formerly enslaved Bland family, as part of a citywide public art initiative ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
The mural was painted by Atlanta muralist Corey Barksdale, who was selected by the City of Atlanta for the commission.
Work with Corey Barksdale
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