Northside Drive: A FIFA Art Commission
Atlanta artist Corey Barksdale created a FIFA art commission along Northside Drive, transforming a long public wall into a vibrant visual story of Atlanta. With bold figures, energetic movement, and vivid color, the mural celebrates the city's history, neighborhoods, and people while welcoming residents and visitors to one of Atlanta's most traveled corridors.
The Northside Drive artwork connects the global excitement of FIFA with Atlanta's distinctive creative spirit. Barksdale's panoramic composition turns an everyday streetscape into an accessible public landmark — one that honors community, inspires civic pride, and gives this international moment an unmistakably Atlanta voice.
Georgia's Growing Public Art Landscape
Atlanta and cities across Georgia have leaned into public art as a genuine tool for civic identity — activating overlooked corridors, welcoming visitors ahead of major events, and giving neighborhoods a visual voice that a plain wall never could. Large-scale murals along major streetscapes do double duty: they're functional infrastructure improvements and cultural landmarks at the same time.
What a Public Art Muralist Brings to a Civic Project
Public art commissions come with their own set of considerations beyond a typical private mural: community input, alignment with a city's broader cultural or beautification goals, durability standards for a wall that will be seen by thousands of people daily, and often coordination with a municipality, arts council, or event organizer. A muralist working at this scale needs to design compositions that read clearly at a distance and from a moving vehicle, not just up close.
Public Art Commission Process
- Community and stakeholder input — understanding what the wall and its neighborhood need to say.
- Site-specific design — a composition planned for the wall's scale, sightlines, and surrounding context.
- Durable execution — exterior-grade materials built to hold up under Georgia's sun and weather for years.
- Civic impact — a finished piece that becomes a genuine part of the neighborhood's identity, not just decoration.
Interested in a Public Art Project?
Corey Barksdale is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and available for public art commissions with municipalities, arts organizations, business improvement districts, and event organizers across the state and beyond.