Atlanta's Film Industry Needs Art Too
The movie and TV industry has thrived in Atlanta for years, bringing jobs across many fields — construction workers are needed to build sets, and set decorators are needed once they're built, including original artwork to dress those sets. One local artist making his mark providing artwork for the industry is Corey Barksdale.
An Artist Shaped Early by Family and Craft
Barksdale, who was raised in Nashville, Tennessee, has been around art his entire life. His family, full of creatives working across mediums, exposed him early to the artistic ideals of both form and color. Building on those organic roots, Barksdale grounded himself in academic artistry by earning his degree in Fine Art from the Atlanta College of Art.
Artistic Influences and Themes
Working across subject matter that ranges from human figures to non-objective abstracts, Barksdale's Atlanta art reflects influences that include abstract expressionists Jasper Johns, Clyfford Still, and Willem de Kooning, alongside African American masters Aaron Douglas, John Biggers, Romare Bearden, and William Tolliver. Most specifically, his artistic themes examine and express the love and strength found within the African American community.
Artwork for Production Designers and Art Directors
Barksdale makes a large selection of his work — existing pieces and new commissions alike — available for use by creative professionals in the film, television, and photography industries. While based in Atlanta, he works nationally and internationally to meet the specific needs of Production Designers, Set Decorators, and Art Directors, offering a library of already-cleared artwork available for rental or purchase, along with art research and clearance services and the ability to print, retouch, or commission paintings to custom specifications.
On Screen
Barksdale's artwork has been featured in the online gallery at getoutfilm.com and has appeared on screen in the TV series "Atlanta," as well as in Jamie Foxx's film "Baby Driver."
A Decade of Serving Collectors and Dealers
For over a decade, Barksdale has offered public exposure to his art creations and served art dealers and collectors searching for a broad range of fine art paintings and collectibles that are distinctive and striking — a real blend of African American art that brings history and spirit alive on canvas.
What Set Designers Look for in Original Art
Production designers and set decorators dressing a scene need more than generic wall decor — they need art that reads as authentic to a character's world, whether that's a family home, a gallery, or a corporate office. Original paintings carry a specificity that stock art and prints can't match, and working directly with an artist means a set can get exactly the right subject, palette, and scale for a shot, along with proper clearance for on-screen use.
Working With Barksdale on a Production
Whether a production needs existing cleared artwork pulled from Barksdale's library or a new piece commissioned to match a specific scene, the process starts the same way any commission does — with a conversation about the project's timeline, budget, and creative direction. That flexibility, paired with a body of work already proven on screen, makes original art from a working Atlanta artist a practical option for productions filming in Georgia's busy film industry.
