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This year's artists:

Artist Statement: Four women artists have teamed up to create a collaborative mural installation. By creating one connecting design on four separate mural boards, we hope to showcase the theme, “women supporting women.” We want to demonstrate that we can achieve more and go further when we come together to support and uplift one another. As artists, we believe there is room for all voices and strive to let go of competition and foster a culture where we embolden each other to dream big.

Using a floral motif throughout the murals, we symbolize growth and development—both as individual artists and as a community. Each artist interpreted this theme in their unique style, from orchids representing resilience to depictions of Georgia's native flora, celebrating the diversity of our lush region.

At the heart of the murals is the unifying statement, “Women belong in all places.” This message is inspired by a well-known Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s quote, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” It reflects our belief in the limitless capability of women, that women belong wherever they choose to be—including spaces like the skate park. We hope this inspires young skaters to embrace inclusivity and equality.

The murals are anchored by the word “GALS,” an homage to the artist collective, Atlanta Art Gals, founded by Artsy Elaine. This collective is dedicated to promoting and connecting women and non-binary Atlanta artists and embodies the spirit of collaboration and empowerment
showcased in this project.

Together, these murals celebrate the strength, creativity, and unity of women, inspiring all who encounter them to grow and thrive—individually and as a community.

“G – Women” by Gabi Anderson: Gabi Anderson is an Atlanta-based artist and illustrator. In her art practice, Gabi highlights the beauty of everyday life, capturing everything from local wildflowers to slushie machines. She is passionate about finding magic in the ordinary, elevating small moments and objects to inspire creativity and individuality in those who engage with her work. Her art seeks to evoke a sense of wonder in the seemingly mundane.

After studying illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design, Gabi pursued book design before transitioning into brand design. In 2021, she launched her independent studio, working across brand design and various artistic disciplines. You can view more of her work by following her on social @gabithecreative.

“A – Belong” by Vanna Black: Vanna Black is a is an illustrator, painter, and muralist artist, with an expertise in digital communication. She obtained her BFA from Georgia State University in graphic arts as a hybrid designer. Having studied fine arts as an undergraduate, she found her style over time relating back to African motif patterns and Japanese Illustrations of vast landscape and floral aesthetics. Her art displays colorful expressive, motion-filled imagery; titling each art piece with the human essence in mind. Vanna’s mission is to use composition, color, scale and balance to open the viewer's mind for internal reflections about one's own thoughts on the world we live in today and the perspective of others’. She visualizes a world where everyone is nurturing each other while learning about how to be self-maintaining like Nature.

Vanna is a proud native of Atlanta and grew up in Ormewood/Grant Park neighborhoods. She has a Bachelors of Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design from Georgia State University. Vanna had the pleasure of creating custom fine art for Hermès, LivingWalls Atlanta, City of Atlanta, Sustainable Forestry Industry, and Canada Goose and Foundry Commercial. She is currently a volunteer member of the social media team for CreativeMornings ATL Chapter and is apart of the newly announced 2025 Cohort of the Paint Love nonprofit organization.

“L – In all” by Hannah-Rose Broom: Hannah-Rose Broom is an actor, artist, filmmaker, and yoga teacher. She has been involved in works with The Alliance Theatre, Synchronicity Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Outfront Theatre, 7 Stages, and more. In addition to acting, she can be found producing and casting indie film projects or working in her art studio. Hannah-Rose has exhibited artwork throughout Atlanta - Mint Gallery, The Bakery, IDEA Gallery, and The B Complex. She has sculptural and mural works at Black Art in America and Dunwoody Skatepark. Hannah-Rose teaches trauma-informed public and private classes for 12 years and works with a myriad of ages and abilities. Find her on social media: @hannahrosebroom.

“S – Places” by Elaine Stephenson: Elaine Stephenson is an Atlanta based artist and muralist creating bright and colorful art with positive messages to uplift and inspire. She draws from her personal experience with anxiety and depression as a means to create art that focuses on the beauty of life and encourages others. She studied graphic design at the University of Georgia, which ignited her love for typography and bold design. After a 10 year design career, she now combines both her strategic design skills and an artistic voice to create art that enhances spaces. Elaine is very involved in public art and has several large permanent murals around GA from Atlanta to Blue Ridge, and now Athens. Her fine art has been exhibited in galleries in Georgia and Colorado at ABV Gallery, FreeMarket Gallery, Cat Eye Creative, MINT Gallery, Ryan Joseph Gallery, The Print Shop, Empire Arts Gallery, Avondale Arts Center, and Arches Brewing. Stephenson has been featured in publications such as the AJC, Arts Atlanta, Shoutout Atlanta, Reporter Intown Newspapers, City Lights on WABE, and the Atlanta Street Art Map.

Brea Te'ann: Brea is a painter and printmaker from Stone Mountain, Georgia. She graduated from Georgia State University in 2018 with a BFA in Art Education, and has since exhibited her work in a variety of venues in the metro Atlanta area. Her exhibitions include the ATLANTA FOREVER Group Show at Future Gallery in Underground Atlanta (October 2021) and the Small Changes group exhibit curated by Decatur Arts Alliance. In addition to her gallery work, Brea is a budding muralist, having also created a ground mural as part of the City of Atlanta's "Love Our Places" program (2022) located at Rose Circle Park.

Inspired by the vibrant colors, Brea creates bold and expressive paintings and prints that explore themes of rest, reflection, and femmehood. Her background in art began as a child, watching her grandfather (affectionately called Poppy) and her mother draw and paint. She works in a variety of mediums, including oils, watercolors, and gouache, and has recently taught herself printmaking. Through the use of portraiture, bright colors, patterns, celestial themes, and botany, she explores the intersections of identity and the natural world.

Artist Statement: This mural is a celebration of self-love, inner peace, and the transformative power of reflection, inspired by Maya Angelou's Phenomenal Woman. Meditation, as depicted in this artwork, is an act of grounding, introspection, and connecting with the universe. In the stillness of the night, the figure meditates while blooming flowers surround her, reflecting growth and vitality. Through the bold declaration of Angelou’s words and the quiet act of self-love and care, this piece embodies the spirit of the poem, encouraging viewers to pause, reflect, and connect with their own inner power.

Kirsten Sandlin: I embarked on my art career later in life.  As a child I aspired to be an artist, but, like many, I was encouraged to pursue a “practical career path,” which led me to study psychology, work as a diplomat overseas, and raise six children. Following a life-changing divorce, I turned to my artistic talents to support my family, finding early success in designing needlepoint canvases that sold worldwide. Yet, I soon discovered a profound fulfillment in creating large-scale works that could engage entire communities.

My time in fiber arts taught me to bring images to life without blending colors, a technique I’ve carried into my mural work. By celebrating each color in its pure form, I create realistic images that reveal new details depending on the viewer’s perspective, offering a fresh experience both up close and from afar.

Building my career as an artist while supporting my family has been a journey of resilience, passion, and the conviction that it’s never too late to follow one’s dreams.

Artist Statement: In each of my projects, I aim to create artwork that speaks directly to viewers, encouraging them to pause, reflect, and find inspiration. While researching for this project, I discovered the incredible story of Atita Verghese, India’s first female professional skateboarder. Atita not only broke boundaries as a skater but also became a trailblazer in her country, creating a supportive space for other young women who dream of pursuing non-traditional paths.

Atita’s dedication to empowering girls and women through skateboarding led her to found Girl Skate India, an organization that provides a safe and encouraging environment for women and girls to embrace skateboarding as a means of self-expression and community. Her story exemplifies the strength of women uniting to reshape cultural narratives and challenge stereotypes. Through this mural, I hope to create an educational and inspirational piece that shares Atita’s journey, highlighting her role in advancing women’s sports and promoting gender equality within skateboarding culture in India.

 

Dee Mirkin: Dee Mirkin is a Dunwoody artist who currently specializes in watercolor and gouache painting, and has dabbled in other mediums over the years, including gourd lamps, acrylic dot painting and more. She graduated from Georgia State University in 2020 with a B.A. in Studio Art. Art has been a major part of her life since she was a child, and she has used it as a tool over for the years for self expression and meditation. Her work is heavily influenced by nature, mindfulness, organic patterns and symmetry. This is her first public mural, and she hopes to do more murals in the future. To see more of her work, check out her website: www.deeloochia.com or Instagram: @deeloochia

Artist Statement: This mural depicts a scene from the Appalachian Trail, a 2,197.4-mile-long footpath that stretches along the Appalachian Mountains from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. On the left side of the scene is an older woman, representing Emma Rowena Gatewood - better known as Grandma Gatewood. She became the first woman to hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail in a single attempt. When she accomplished this feat in 1955, she was 67 years old and carried only minimal hiking gear. She later became the first person - man or woman - to complete the entire trail a second time in 1957 at age 69, and again in 1964 at age 72.

Beyond her incredible hiking achievements, Grandma Gatewood was a mother of 11 children and a survivor of more than 30 years of domestic abuse. It is believed that she found solace in the woods, often seeking refuge there during her abusive marriage.

I chose this subject for my mural because, as an avid hiker and lover of the Appalachian Trail myself (having hiked about 1,700 miles of it), I find Grandma Gatewood’s story deeply inspiring. Her love for the outdoors resonates with me, as I have personally found nature to be a source of healing, peace, and self-acceptance. The natural world fosters a connection to oneself in a way few other environments can, and for me, it has been essential to my mental well-being and sense of belonging.

To complement the mural, I included the quote, “A woman who walks with nature walks with the universe” (Amit Ray), as I believe it beautifully captures the themes of healing, self-discovery, and inner strength that can be found in nature. Through this mural, I hope to honor Grandma Gatewood’s legacy and inspire more women - regardless of age or resources - to spend time outdoors and experience the profound impact of nature.

Amy Patterson: Amy Patterson has over a decade of experience creating work in nearly every medium imaginable. Graduating from Kennesaw State with a BFA in Drawing and Painting and a minor in Marketing, Patterson entered the art world through the fine art scene, and gradually gained a passion for murals after feeling a sense of deep purpose while working with various organizations around the US and Mexico. They believe art deserves to be accessible, seen, and interactive within the space it’s installed in. Their work is not purely visual, though technical skill is an emphasized pillar of each piece. Concept and intentionality is extremely important; as well as an awareness to realistically connect viewership to the message of the mural. Patterson’s work is in several cities, from Oaxaca to Philadelphia to Atlanta, and they plan to explore as many location as possible in this lifetime, delving deeper into what it means to be a student of the world.

https://www.amypatterson-art.com/

Artist Statement: Earlier this year, I began listening to Dorothy Ashby, who was a prominent jazz harpist in the mid 1900’s. I dug into her personal history recently and learned that she was essentially battling against every odd in her career. She was a black woman trying to spark interest in hearing the harp during jazz performance, which was seen as more of a classical instrument. These factors caused a lack of visibility. Plus, the technical skill required to match harp to complex changes in chord and rhythm was something few musicians tried to learn. I find myself listening to her when I crave to feel relaxed yet stimulated by rich compositional choices. It’s gentle yet overwhelming, like when you’re observing all of the intricate textures of a coral reef, or leaf patterns on a Japanese Maple in autumn.

Conceptually, I’ve been using the tiger to represent the strength and courage it takes to live your life in an authentic way despite the societal and psychological roadblocks. Visually, I want to create something otherworldly and mystical- evoking a curiosity in viewers to look closer and observe her the way I feel her music deserves to be observed. One of my favorite songs is her rendition of “By the Time I Get to Phoenix.”