As Atlanta prepares to welcome the world for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the city is also transforming its public spaces through new murals, sculptures, and installations that celebrate creativity, resilience, and Atlanta’s global identity.
Led by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, several public art projects are currently underway across the city—from large-scale murals to internationally recognized sculptures—bringing new life to parks, bridges, and corridors that residents and visitors experience every day.
These installations are part of Atlanta’s broader effort to ensure the city’s streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces reflect the energy and creativity of a global host city.
Murals Transforming Atlanta’s Streets
Through the Bridges, Tunnels and Walls (BTW) mural program, local artists are creating vibrant works across key corridors throughout Atlanta. Artists were selected through a competitive process from the City of Atlanta’s artist roster, which includes more than 800 registered artists. The mural opportunity was open to Metro Atlanta artists, with hundreds competing for the 10 available projects.
Several of the murals are now nearing completion:
-
Larkin Ford – Freedom Parkway at Ralph McGill Boulevard
The mural is nearly complete, with final clear-coating expected soon and full completion anticipated by March 18.
-
Corey Barksdale – Northside Drive and 17th Street
Work is progressing with completion anticipated by April 2.
-
Trudy Tran – Sidney Marcus Boulevard
This mural is also expected to be completed by April 2.
Together, these murals bring bold color and storytelling to Atlanta’s infrastructure, transforming everyday spaces into outdoor galleries.
Love in Action Connects Civil Rights Across Generations
Another major installation nearing completion is “Love in Action,” a powerful wall sculpture by artist Maria Artemis located at the BeltLine crossing at MLK Jr. Drive.
The work visually connects two defining eras of civic activism: the Civil Rights marches of the 1960s and the Black Lives Matter movement of the 2010s and early 2020s. Historic imagery of John Lewis crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge anchors the composition, referencing his description of the Civil Rights Movement as “love in action.”
Both façade panels feature the Washington Monument, symbolizing the enduring fight for voting rights, free speech, and the right to peaceful protest.
The installation is 95% complete, with lighting and final cleaning expected by March 23, ahead of an unveiling anticipated in April.
“Rebirth” Sculpture Rises from Real-Life Tragedy
In Freedom Park, visitors can now experience “Rebirth,” a striking sculpture by internationally recognized Nigerian artist Jonathan Imifador.
The sculpture depicts a figure emerging upward from fragments that evoke discarded pieces of urban life—symbolizing resilience, transformation, and renewal.
The artwork carries an especially powerful story. Both the artist and the sculpture survived the devastating South River Art Studios fire, making the piece itself a literal symbol of rebirth. Now installed as part of the Garden Art for the Soul exhibition, the work stands as a testament to the strength and perseverance of Atlanta’s creative community.
International Art Comes to Atlanta
Atlanta is also welcoming internationally acclaimed contemporary art.
A major installation by Alicja Kwade, a German-Polish artist known for exploring themes of science, philosophy, and value systems, will be unveiled at Shirley Franklin Park. The work features monumental stone spheres sourced from locations around the world, each representing its country of origin.
Originally featured in the Venice Biennale, the installation reflects global connection and geological time while resonating with its site at Atlanta’s former rock quarry—a location once defined by extraction that now invites reflection and community gathering.
An unveiling is anticipated in April.
A City Preparing to Welcome the World
As Atlanta prepares for FIFA World Cup 2026™, these projects highlight the city’s commitment to ensuring that global visitors experience not only world-class soccer, but also the creativity, culture, and stories that define Atlanta.
From murals across city corridors to sculptures that symbolize resilience and global connection, Atlanta’s public art landscape is evolving—one installation at a time.
And for residents, that means new reasons to explore the city long before the first match kicks off.
