Exploring Atlanta’s Living Walls Murals: A Citywide Guide to Street Art

Atlanta’s Living Walls murals have turned walls, underpasses, and forgotten corners into a sprawling open-air gallery. If you live in Atlanta, are visiting, or are just trying to understand how street art works here, the Living Walls projects are one of the best ways to see the city’s creativity in action.

This guide walks you through what Living Walls is, where to find key murals across Atlanta, how the program fits into the city’s arts landscape, and how to explore these works safely and respectfully.

What Are Living Walls Murals in Atlanta?

Living Walls is known in Atlanta as a public art initiative that brings local and international artists together to create large-scale murals across the city. Over time, it has helped shape Atlanta’s reputation as a major street art destination in the Southeast.

In practical terms for residents and visitors:

• You’ll see Living Walls murals on private building exteriors, retaining walls, and other large surfaces.
• They often appear in walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods, close to shops, coffee houses, and transit.
• The themes range from abstract and geometric to social, cultural, and historical, reflecting Atlanta’s diverse communities.

Living Walls murals are not just decorations; they’re part of ongoing conversations in the city about community identity, public space, and local history.

Where to Find Living Walls Murals Citywide

Murals are spread across neighborhoods, so there’s no single “Living Walls district.” Instead, they’re clustered in several walkable areas.

Major Neighborhoods With Living Walls Murals

1. Old Fourth Ward & Edgewood

This area is one of the most mural-dense parts of Atlanta.

• Along and around Edgewood Avenue SE
• Near the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail
• Side streets connecting to Hilliard St NE and Boulevard

This is a good area if you want to combine mural-spotting with food, nightlife, and short walks.

2. Downtown & South Downtown

You’ll find murals tucked among high-rises, parking decks, and historic buildings.

• Around Peachtree St SW, Broad St SW, and adjacent side streets
• Close to MARTA stations like Five Points and Georgia State

This is easier to explore by foot or MARTA than by car due to traffic and limited parking.

3. East Atlanta Village (EAV)

EAV has long supported independent art and music, and Living Walls murals fit right in.

• Near the intersection of Flat Shoals Ave SE and Glenwood Ave SE
• Down alleyways and parking lots behind businesses

The neighborhood is compact, so you can cover a lot of murals in a short walk.

4. West End & Southwest Atlanta

More recent efforts have added murals on Atlanta’s west and southwest sides.

• Around Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW and the West End commercial corridor
• Near sections of the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail

This area often reflects themes of Black history, community resilience, and local activism.

Sample Citywide Overview

The following simplified table gives a general sense of where you might encounter Living Walls murals and how best to explore:

Murals can change over time as walls are repainted, renovated, or new projects are added, so what you see on any given day may be different from what others have seen in the past.

How Living Walls Fits Into Atlanta’s Street Art Scene

Atlanta has a wide range of public art, and Living Walls is one piece of that ecosystem.

Relationship to Other Atlanta Street Art

• Atlanta BeltLine murals: Various mural programs and individual artists have contributed works along the multi-use trails. Some Living Walls artists have also painted here, but not every BeltLine mural is a Living Walls piece.
• Community-led murals: Neighborhood groups and local businesses sometimes commission their own artists. These may resemble Living Walls murals but are organized separately.
• City-sponsored public art: The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Office of Design sometimes support mural projects tied to city planning, transportation corridors, or historic preservation.

For you as a viewer, this means you’ll encounter a mix of mural origins walking through Atlanta. Living Walls installations stand alongside many other public art pieces, together creating the city’s visual character.

Planning a DIY Living Walls Mural Tour

You don’t need a guided tour to see Living Walls murals, though some in-person and self-guided tours may be available through local arts organizations or neighborhood groups at different times.

Here are practical steps for a self-guided citywide experience:

1. Choose One or Two Focus Areas

To keep your day reasonable, pick 1–2 neighborhoods:

• For a first-time visitor: Old Fourth Ward + Edgewood is a solid choice.
• For a history-rich walk: Combine Downtown + South Downtown.
• For a neighborhood vibe: Focus on East Atlanta Village or West End.

2. Use Transit and Walking

• MARTA rail can get you close to Downtown, South Downtown, and West End.
• Atlanta Streetcar covers part of Downtown and the Old Fourth Ward edge.
• Walking or biking is often the easiest way to actually find murals, since many are on side streets or alleys, not major arterials.

🚶‍♀️ Tip: Plan for short detours down side streets and behind buildings—some of the best mural views are in parking lots and along rear facades.

3. Time of Day and Weather

• Daylight hours are best for viewing details and staying aware of your surroundings.
• Try for morning or late afternoon to avoid strong midday glare on brightly painted walls.
• After heavy rain, some lower-lying underpasses or unpaved access points may be muddy or slick.

Respecting Murals and Neighborhoods

Living Walls murals are located in real neighborhoods where people live and work. As a viewer, you’re a guest in those spaces.

Basic Etiquette

• Don’t touch or climb on murals. Paint can be damaged by oils, dirt, or scraping.
• Stay off private property. View from sidewalks, public paths, or areas that are clearly open to visitors.
• Be mindful of driveways and parking. Don’t block business entrances or residents’ parking areas for a photo.
• Keep noise reasonable, especially near homes or late at night.

Photographing Murals

• Casual photography for personal enjoyment is usually fine from public spaces.
• If you’re planning commercial shoots (for advertising, products, or monetized media), it’s wise to:
  • Check whether the wall is private property.
  • Seek permission from the building owner or manager.
  • Consider contacting Atlanta’s public art staff for general guidance, especially if you’re unsure about rights or restrictions.

How Murals Fit Into Atlanta’s Rules and Processes

If you’re mainly interested in viewing, you don’t have to know the legal details. But for residents, property owners, or artists, it helps to understand how murals fit into the city’s systems.

Public vs. Private Property

Most Living Walls murals in Atlanta are on privately owned buildings, installed with the owner’s permission. A smaller number may appear on or near public infrastructure with appropriate approvals.

From a city standpoint, murals are often treated differently from:

• Graffiti or unauthorized tagging
• Traditional advertising signage
• Temporary event banners

City Involvement and Contacts

For questions about murals, public art, and related permissions, common points of contact include:

• City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs

  • 233 Peachtree Street NE, Harris Tower, Suite 1700, Atlanta, GA 30303
  • Main City Hall line can usually direct you to this office.

• City of Atlanta City Hall

  • 55 Trinity Avenue SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
  • General information and routing for questions about city policies and public programs.

The details of permitting and approvals can be complex and may vary depending on location, building type, and the nature of the artwork. Property owners and artists typically coordinate approvals before a mural is installed.

Living Walls as a Reflection of Atlanta’s Communities

Across the city, Living Walls murals are often connected to local stories and identities:

• In historically Black neighborhoods, murals may highlight civil rights leaders, neighborhood history, and cultural pride.
• Near universities and creative hubs, themes often lean toward innovation, youth culture, and experimentation.
• In redevelopment areas, murals can reflect community discussions about change, displacement, and belonging.

For Atlantans, these walls can serve as visual markers of how neighborhoods are changing, what residents care about, and how people choose to represent themselves in public space.

How Residents and Visitors Can Engage Beyond Viewing

If you want to go deeper than just looking at murals:

Ways to Engage

• Attend local arts festivals and neighborhood events. Many Atlanta neighborhoods host festivals where mural tours or artist talks may be included.
• Visit nearby galleries and community arts centers. Areas with murals often have related art spaces and creative businesses. Exploring those can give more context about the artists’ work.
• Connect with neighborhood organizations. Community associations or business improvement districts sometimes share information about local public art projects and how residents can have a voice in future installations.

If You’re a Property Owner or Artist

If you’re in Atlanta and interested in hosting or creating a mural:

1. Talk with your neighborhood association or local business group about existing art efforts and community priorities.
2. Reach out to local arts organizations or established muralists for guidance on typical processes, timelines, and costs.
3. Contact the City of Atlanta (via City Hall or the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs) if you’re unsure whether your project might need special review or coordination, especially in historic districts or along key corridors.

Exploring Living Walls murals across Atlanta is one of the most accessible ways to experience the city’s arts, culture, and history in everyday spaces. Whether you’re walking the BeltLine, wandering through Old Fourth Ward, or riding MARTA Downtown, keep an eye on the walls around you—Atlanta’s stories are painted right onto the city itself.