Exploring Outerspace Project Murals in Atlanta: A Local’s Guide to the Citywide Street Art Festival

Atlanta’s skyline is always changing, but so are its walls. One of the biggest reasons is the Outerspace Project, a citywide street art initiative that has turned walls, alleys, and industrial spaces into an open-air gallery. If you’ve ever driven through neighborhoods like Cabbagetown, Edgewood, or West End and spotted huge, colorful murals, chances are some of them were created during this project.

This guide walks you through what the Outerspace Project murals are, where to find them, how the festival works in Atlanta, and how locals and visitors can best experience the art.

What Is the Outerspace Project in Atlanta?

The Outerspace Project is an annual, Atlanta-based mural and arts festival that brings together local, national, and international artists to paint large-scale murals around the city.

Instead of existing in just one park or plaza, Outerspace Project spreads art across multiple neighborhoods. Over time, it has helped shape Atlanta’s reputation as a street art destination and turned plain building walls into community landmarks.

Key features of the project in Atlanta:

• Focus on murals and street art
• Multiple neighborhoods involved each year
• Mix of Atlanta-based artists and visiting artists
• Events often include live painting, music, and community gatherings

For Atlanta residents, the murals become part of daily life—something you walk past on your commute or show off to out-of-town friends. For visitors, they are a great way to see different sides of the city beyond the traditional tourist spots.

Where to Find Outerspace Project Murals in Atlanta

Murals created during Outerspace Project are scattered across the metro area, especially in intown neighborhoods. Walls can change from year to year, but several areas consistently feature these works.

Neighborhoods Known for Outerspace Project Murals

While the exact walls rotate, you’ll frequently find Outerspace Project murals in or near:

• Old Fourth Ward & Edgewood
  • Around Edgewood Avenue SE and side streets
  • Near nightlife spots and historic buildings
• Cabbagetown & Reynoldstown
  • Along Wylie Street SE and the surrounding blocks
  • Close to the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail
• West End & Westview
  • Industrial corridors and warehouse walls
  • Near the West End MARTA area and along Ralph David Abernathy Blvd
• Summerhill & South Atlanta
  • Former commercial strips being revitalized with large murals
• Downtown / Castleberry Hill
  • Brick warehouses and galleries that regularly host mural work

Not every mural in these areas is part of Outerspace Project, but many high-impact pieces and newer walls come from the festival.

How to Visit the Murals: Practical Tips

Because the murals are spread throughout the city, most people see them by walking, biking, or driving a loose route through a few neighborhoods.

Getting Around

• On foot or bike:
  • Ideal for Old Fourth Ward, Cabbagetown, and the BeltLine Eastside Trail, where murals are clustered closely together.
• By car:
  • Useful for visiting more spread-out murals in West End, Summerhill, and industrial areas.
• By MARTA:
  • King Memorial, Inman Park/Reynoldstown, West End, and Garnett stations place you near neighborhoods with murals; you may still need to walk or rideshare from there.

Parking and Safety Basics

• Use public lots or street parking where allowed; be mindful of residential permit zones.
• Many murals sit along busy streets or near loading docks—stay on sidewalks and avoid blocking driveways or business operations.
• Visit during daylight if you’re unfamiliar with the area, especially in industrial zones with limited lighting at night.

Outerspace Project vs. Other Atlanta Street Art

Atlanta has several big mural and street art efforts. Outerspace Project is one of the best-known, especially for large, polished walls.

How Outerspace Project Stands Out

• Focus on big, bold, often colorful large-scale murals
• Emphasis on professional street artists with recognizable styles
• Murals often tie into Atlanta’s creative identity, music, and pop culture
• Events and painting usually happen within a concentrated time window, so you may see multiple works going up in the same week

By contrast, other mural initiatives might focus more on community-driven designs, neighborhood history, or youth art programs. Outerspace Project leans more toward the contemporary street art and mural festival style you’d see in major art cities.

What to Expect When You Explore Outerspace Project Murals

Outerspace Project murals vary widely in style, but you’ll typically find:

• Vibrant colors and abstract forms
• Character-based artwork, from surreal creatures to futuristic portraits
• Lettering and graffiti-inspired designs
• Occasional Atlanta icons, like references to local music, neighborhoods, or landmarks

Many murals become unofficial photo backdrops. You’ll often see people taking portraits, fashion photos, or social media shots in front of particularly striking walls.

Suggested Areas to Start Your Own Mural Tour

Here’s a simple, high-level guide to planning a DIY Outerspace-style mural day in Atlanta.

🔍 Tip: Many locals pick one or two neighborhoods per outing rather than trying to see everything in a single day.

Visiting During the Festival vs. Any Time of Year

Many murals created through the Outerspace Project remain on the walls for years, so you can view them year-round.

However, if your schedule lines up with the festival period, you might:

• See artists actively painting on lifts or scaffolding
• Catch live music, pop-up events, or art gatherings connected to the project
• Watch older murals being updated or replaced with new designs

If you’re in Atlanta, it can be helpful to keep an eye on local arts calendars, neighborhood social media pages, or venue announcements to find out when new walls are going up.

How the Murals Fit Into Atlanta’s Arts, Culture, and History

The Outerspace Project murals are more than pretty walls—they reflect broader themes in Atlanta’s cultural story:

• Creative reuse of industrial spaces: Many murals transform older warehouses and underused walls into visual landmarks.
• Neighborhood identity: Murals often become shorthand for a neighborhood’s vibe and are used in local branding and wayfinding.
• Access to art: The murals offer free, public access to large-scale contemporary art without needing to visit a gallery or museum.

For people who live in Atlanta, these walls can mark personal memories—meeting spots, photo locations, or simply something bright you pass every day on your way to work.

Respecting the Murals and the Neighborhoods

If you’re exploring Outerspace Project murals in Atlanta, a few simple courtesies go a long way:

• Don’t touch or tag the murals. Adding your own marks is generally seen as vandalism, not collaboration.
• Be considerate of neighbors. Keep noise down in residential areas and avoid blocking doorways, driveways, or sidewalks.
• Support nearby local businesses. Many walls are on or near small shops, restaurants, and cafés that welcome visitors.
• Take only photos. No need to remove anything from the site; the art is meant to stay in the community.

How Locals Can Stay Involved With Atlanta’s Mural Scene

If you live in Atlanta and want to stay connected to projects like Outerspace Project:

• Watch neighborhood channels: Many neighborhoods, like Old Fourth Ward, Cabbagetown, West End, and Summerhill, share updates when new murals appear.
• Visit local galleries and arts venues: Areas like Castleberry Hill and Downtown frequently showcase artists who also paint walls.
• Follow public art programs: Citywide efforts organized through places like city cultural affairs offices, local nonprofits, and community groups often intersect with mural projects.

You do not need any special ticket or pass to enjoy Outerspace Project murals already on the walls—they are free to view, open to the public, and spread across Atlanta.

Exploring Outerspace Project murals is one of the most rewarding ways to see how arts, culture, and history come together on Atlanta’s streets. Whether you take a quick detour on the BeltLine or plan a full day wandering between neighborhoods, the city’s walls offer a constantly evolving snapshot of Atlanta’s creative energy.