In the heart of Atlanta, Living Walls has spent more than a decade transforming the city’s spaces with public art. Since 2010, the nonprofit has produced more than 500 murals, giving voices to those who are historically excluded from large-scale public art.
Living Walls prioritizes women, people of color, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ artists and has turned the city’s walls into spaces for storytelling and activism. The nonprofit believes in the power of public art to spark conversations and shed light on social issues.
“Public art can bring people together, both through the process of creating and the conversations started after they are finished,” said Tatiana Bell, the organization’s creative director. “At the very least, we hope these artworks can brighten someone’s day or make them feel seen. I hope it fosters excitement and curiosity about what our public spaces could be.”
Each mural produced by Living Walls offers a platform for these artists to showcase their talents and tell their personal stories.
The process for selecting artists varies on the specific needs of each project.
“Depending on the project’s needs, we may curate a selection of artists, allow partners to choose from our recommendations, hold open calls, or collaborate with curators who have strong ties to the community,” Bell said.
Living Walls’ latest project, “I AM MINE / WE ARE OURS,” is a mural series featuring six local women and nonbinary artists of varying cultural backgrounds who explore the themes of love as an act of resistance and personal identity. As part of this initiative, the neighborhood has made efforts to enhance the space with a collection of murals and streetlights while fundraising for gutters along the underpass to help preserve the artwork.
One of the artists featured in this initiative is Karaoke Rodriguez, a Colombian videographer, illustrator, and tattoo artist who lives and works between Atlanta and Bogotà, Colombia. Her mural, “Nothing Can Destroy the Spirit of the Earth,” pays homage to the Defend the Atlanta Forest movement that fights to protect the city’s green spaces.
“The movement and the experience of being outside helps develop a relationship with nature, highlighting our interconnectivity with it all,” Rodriguez said. “Defending the forest isn’t just about personal preference—it’s about recognizing that we co-transform each other. Understanding that connection, that solidarity with people, animals, landscapes, and even the elements, benefits us all. Expanding that sense of connection makes life more meaningful. It brings joy and grief—grief for what is lost and a deeper appreciation for what remains.”
Rodriguez’s “Nothing Can Destroy the Spirit of the Earth” speaks to the importance of forests and the interconnectedness between humans and the environment.
“When we exist in a symbiotic relationship with our forests, we deepen our relationship with ourselves and our communities,” Rodriguez said.
The “I AM MINE / WE ARE OURS” project is committed to empowering the community. Through this series, artists like Rodriguez, explore how art can catalyze change and remind us of the deep connections between ourselves and the world we share.
Although Living Walls is based in Atlanta, the nonprofit’s reach extends far beyond the city. It has murals in Brunswick, Birmingham, Miami, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Paris, and Mexico City.
Living Walls continues to expand its reach to empower artists to create public art that reflects their identities and experiences.
