Atlanta artist creates vibrant tribute to West Midtown ahead of FIFA World Cup

A blank wall in West Midtown is transforming into a colorful celebration of history and culture, thanks to a local artist. 

Commissioned as part of Mayor Andre Dickens’ citywide effort to beautify Atlanta ahead of the FIFA World Cup, the mural by Corey Barksdale combines global excitement with deep local roots.

Barksdale, who beat out hundreds of artists for the project, is painting a 25-foot mural at 17th Street and Northside Drive. His work reflects the cultural and historical significance of West Midtown, tracing the legacy of the Bland family — who settled in the area after the Civil War — and highlighting the neighborhood’s once-thriving economy.

“This is monumental for me. I mean, this means a lot because I consider Atlanta my home,” Barksdale said.

The piece also nods to lesser-known moments in Atlanta’s history, including the early popularity of stock car racing within the African American community.  

“As you get down to the middle of the mural you will see the guy who is a stock car racer. So, stock car racing was actually popular in Atlanta in the early 1900s, 1920s, it wasn’t something that African Americans did in the beginning, but eventually it became popular in the African American community. Also in the 1960s, there was actually African Americans that were stock car racers and that was the thing to do on the weekends,” Barksdale explained.

Barksdale estimates he will use around 30 paintbrushes and 20 gallons of paint before completing the mural, which he calls a tribute to the past, present, and future of West Midtown.

Construction of the mural has been underway for six weeks, with completion expected by mid-March, just in time to welcome the wave of tourists for this summer’s FIFA World Cup.