MIDTOWN UNION IS A PEOPLE-CENTRIC, MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT
providing an energetic, innovative and productive environment for people to work, live, shop, dine and relax.

The project consists of two large murals going up at Midtown Union, the mixed- use project being developed by Granite Properties and MetLife Investment Management in Midtown Atlanta. The project consists of a Class-AA office tower, the Mira at Midtown Union residenFal tower, The Kimpton Wade hotel and 30,000 SF of retail and two murals by artist Joe Dreher aka JOEKINGATL and his team Krista Jones and Muhammad Suber.

Midtown Union is adjacent to Atlanta's art community. The murals are part of the team's effort to connect the people-centric project to its surrounding community and incorporate art, murals, and sculptures.

Atlanta-based artist and SCAD graduate, Joe Dreher aka @JOEKINGATL, started painting the murals on March 14. The murals represent the artist’s tribute to the idea of bringing the city together which is represented in the word “union” (from Midtown Union). Midtown is like a bridge between North Atlanta, Downtown, and South Atlanta. A place where all can meet in the middle. The South mural consists of two intertwining faces. of people. The North mural has single-line drawings of profiles four faces and the a mobius strip, which is an infinite loop, featuring a one- sided surface without boundaries, symbolizing unity and infinity. The faces in the murals are members of the artist’s own family. The murals celebrate art and the artist’s love for his family, the people of Atlanta and the city he calls home.

New City. 2022. Acrylic Spray paint and China Marker on 9 18”x24” Canvas Panels. Overall Dimensions 54”x72”.

These two commissioned 6’ x 8’ canvases for Mabra Law office. were painted in the studio while the new building was still under construction. Once the building was complete they were installed in the lobby and three addition on-site murals were painted behind the reception area and in the main conference room.

Portrait Partners Pandemic Style

While occupying a retail storefront on Main Street for the ten day duration of Artfields 2021, people coming out for any the first time since the pandemic lockdown were drawn on the glass and mono prints were made and hung in the empty space.

Inspired by the iconic I AM A MAN protest signs, this mural I AM A VOTE features an image of the civil rights leader John Lewis wearing his trench coat and backpack with the addition of a face mask. Despite all the obstacles, Georgians came out in record numbers to vote and turn the state from red to blue.

A mural for the office suites at Passion City Church uses three colors to create a feeling reminiscent of the ocean and the sky.

In September 2014, I painted my first mural in Cabbagetown.  I used white primer and black paint leftover from Living Walls.  I didn't have a lot of resources but I had an idea and thanks to Sam Parker, the opportunity and the encouragement to paint it.

Photos by Jamie Lee and Joe Dreher

Commissioned by the High Museum of Art to advertise the Basqiuat: The Unknown Notebooks exhibition.

I was asked to select from three walls to paint my mural for the campaign.  Instead, I encouraged them to let me bring on two additional artists and paint all three walls side by side over the period of a week.  The murals for the Not A Crime campaign were painted by Charmaine Minnifield, Fabian Williams and myself (mine is the one with the gold of course).

The City of Hapeville is seeking to adorn the city’s pedestrian bridge with a permanent, landmark public artwork. The bridge should be transformed to become an interactive, fun pride piece for the City.

Original South
Opening reception Saturday June 23, 2018 6-10pm
The 5th annual grand salon group show featuring some of the best artists in the South. This will be a fun, large group show of medium to small works.

Everything old is new again!

My concept is based on the way a car wash works. Your car gets dirty and feels old and when you enter the car wash stall the image you see is the old man a bit weathered and tarnished with a thick beard and a wrinkled face. After a good wash, you leave the stall and see in the rear view miror the face of the young man fresh and clean.

Westside Mural Project is a collaboration between Letter75 and Lean Draft House. Our goal is to bring art to public spaces in an effort to enhance outdoor spaces. Westside Mural Project challenges artists to create environments for the public to experience within car wash bays in the South West Community of Atlanta. Each selected artist (artist team) will be given a car wash bay (2x) 20ft x 9ft walls to paint a mural on (both walls of the bay). Westside Mural Project invites the community to engage with the artists during the three day execution of the projects.

Artist (artist teams) will be given three days to complete the mural. This project is also intended to encourage local artists from diverse backgrounds to expand and work outside of their comfort zones to push their parameters of art and in return increase public access to the arts. One bay will be dedicated for the community and public participation which offers a safe places for experimentation. This years three day event will be June 21st-23rd. We encourage everyone from all ages and backgrounds to participate.

Opening Reception
Friday June 22, 2018
7:00 - 10:00 PM
free and open to the public
exhibit runs through July 27, 2018

The New South III June 22 - July 27, 2018 | Kai Lin Art is proud to host our third annual juried exhibition of works on paper, The New South III. The show explores the contemporary South through the perspectives of 60 artists living and working throughout the Southeast. From over 1,000 submitted artworks, 75 pieces were selected for the exhibition.

Overseeing the selection process this year are our jurors Justin Rabideau, Director of The Bernard A. Zuckerman Museum at Kennesaw State University and Larry Jens Anderson, Professor of Art at The Atlanta College of Art & SCAD-Atlanta.

Featuring the work of:

Hannah Adair, Priscilla Alarcon, Rose M. Barron, Steven Anderson, Marie Porterfield Barry, Brendan Baylor, Rita Bazinet, Faye Bell, Marc Boyson, Lanny Brewster, Samantha Burns, Hannah Burton, Sierra Bush, Joe Camoosa, Jennifer Cantley, Julio Ceballos, Madison Clark, Joe Cory, Philip Crawford, Colleen Critcher, Michael Crouse, Valentina Custer O’Roark, Dan Dixon, Joseph Dreher, Sabre Elser, Debbie Ezell, Sue Fox, Andrea Garland, Ashley Gregg, Gwen Gunter, Julie Henry, Maxine Hess, Roxane Hollosi, Mark Hosford, Alea Hurst, Courtney Khail, Axelle Kieffer, Jamie Kim, Laila Kouri, Christina Kwan, Trish Land, Jessica Locklar, Ry McCullough, Casey Mark McGuire Schoon, Lyn Sterling Montagne, Andrew Munoz, Madison Osborne, Coki Panda, Chr!s Reel, Flora Rosefsky, Nell Ruby, Richard Solomon, Emma Starr, Hannah Surace, Chadwick Tolley, Alexi Torres, Katie Troisi, Annemarie Williams, Rebecca Young, Valerie Zimany

Atlanta Streets Alive - Westside

My project for Atlanta Streets Alive Westside is based on the concept of inclusion and representation. Each of the participants walks, runs, bikes, or use whatever means to cross over the inked carpet which acts as a giant stamp pad. They then leave their impression on the stencil which is later lifted from the street and displayed as a documentation of the event and all those who participated.

The streets of Atlanta will spring to life on Sunday, June 10th as a 3.6-mile stretch of street from Downtown to Underwood Hills is opened to people on foot and bike, and closed to motorized traffic (except for intersections where cars will be free to cross.)

Organized by the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, Atlanta Streets Alive will head back to the Westside via Marietta St. and Howell Mill Road. Neighborhoods include Downtown, Georgia Tech, English Avenue, Marietta Street Artery, Home Park, Atlantic Station, Blandtown, Berkeley Park, and Underwood Hills. Grab your friends and family and get ready to activate the streets with human-powered amusement!

Golden Flag. 2018

Gold Paint on Canvas Flag

48” x 80”

Working in three, one-hour rounds, local artists gather in the High Museum’s Robinson Atrium to create original art on the spot using the media of their choice.

Onlookers can grab a drink, sway to the beats of DJ Teknology, stake out a favorite artist, and eagerly await the finished masterpieces. Wieland Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art Michael Rooks will serve as emcee, counting down to the final seconds of each round as the artists furiously complete their creations.

And then the real fun begins …

Each artwork is then auctioned off for $75 — a steal for original art from some of Atlanta’s finest artists. Watch the frenzy as fans eagerly follow the piece they’ve been eyeing from its creation to the bidding table.

If more than one visitor wants a particular artwork, a deck of playing cards is pulled out to determine the outcome. The lucky winner is also contributing to a worthy cause: all proceeds from the rally will directly fund the High’s acquisition of artworks made by Georgia-based artists.

Join us on Saturday, May 12, 2018 from 1 to 4 p.m. to experience Monster Drawing Rally.

Fine Arts Exhibition

May 22-June 10 2018 | Dalton Gallery at Agnes Scott College,
Dana Fine Arts Building, 141 E. College Ave.

The Fine Arts Exhibition is a juried multimedia presentation that contributes a fresh and unique perspective to the Decatur Arts Festival. The exhibition attracts submissions from regional and national artists and is reviewed by respected members of Atlanta’s arts community. Jurors this year are Angus Galloway, Ann Rowles, and Fred Yalouris.

For purchasing information visit the reception desk at the front of the gallery or contact the Decatur Arts Alliance at 404-371-9583 or admin@decaturartsalliance.org.

Opening Reception

Tuesday, May 22 | 5:15-7 pm

Be among the first to view an intriguing collection of paintings, prints, photographs, sculpture and mixed media selected by this year’s distinguished jury. Meet the artists and enjoy refreshments. 

Exhibition Hours

Open daily May 22-June 10: 2-5 pm
Friday, May 25 (Artwalk): 2-10 pm
May 26-27 and June 11: Noon-6 pm
Last Call Closing Reception June 10: 4-6 pm

Last Call Closing Reception

June 10 | 4-6 pm

Join the Decatur Arts Alliance and selected artists for brief discussions of the artists’ works.

Georgia Artists: A Juried Exhibit
May 4 – June 15, 2018

Opening Reception Saturday,
May 12, 2018 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Abernathy Arts Center
254 Johnson Ferry Road, NW
Sandy Springs GA, 30328

A showcase of juried work by established and emerging artists from across Georgia exhibiting in a variety of mediums. FREE and Open to the Public

Jurors:

Michi Meko is the Arts Education Coordinator at West End Performing Arts Center. His work has been recognized with both the 2017 Joan Mitchell Painters and Sculptors Grant and the 2017 Atlanta Artadia Award. Meko lives and works in Atlanta, GA and has had solo exhibitions at the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center and University of Georgia’s Dodd Galleries.

Laura Bell is an Assistant Professor of Art at Kennesaw State University. She has had solo shows at whitespace (Atlanta, GA) and Jennifer Kostuik Gallery (Vancouver, BC). Her work has been featured in New American Paintings and Domino Magazine. Bell currently lives and works in Atlanta, GA.

Judge:

Laura Hathaway is the owner and director of Hathaway Contemporary Gallery.  The gallery exhibits emerging and established artists across a wide variety of media. Hathaway Contemporary is located on the Westside of Atlanta and was established in 2015.

An annual, nine-day art competition in Lake City, South Carolina – and the largest competition of its kind – ArtFields awards more than $120,000 in cash prizes to artists from across the Southeast. And, it’s also infused new energy, creativity, and growth into Lake City and its surrounding communities.

Atlanta Photography Group and Gallery Walk at Terminus are proud to present Growing Up Human, an exhibition of photographic portraits focused on the universally shared experiences of childhood and love. Although every individual experiences these rites of passage in their own unique way, we can all relate to these images. Curated by Nick Ashton, the show features the work of these artists: Mark Caceres, Maggie Callahan, Shannon Davis, Erin Fender, Jennifer Garza-Cuen, Henry Jacobs, JOEKINGATL, Kasey Medlin, Beate Sass, Todd Suttles, and Yolanda Santiago White.

Location: Gallery Walk at Terminus, Terminus 200 Building, 3333 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta GA 30305 (Google Maps) and directions/price for the Terminus Parking Deck

JOE worked with the City of Alpharetta to promote the opening of it’s new history museum. Historic photographs from the city’s archive were used to create wheat paste murals at City Hall and around the community. Most of the murals were placed in the locations where the original photographs were taken.

Alpharetta History Museum Grand Opening & Dedication

Apr 26, 2018 05:30 PM - Apr 26, 2018 07:30 PM

First Art in the Parks Installation Displayed in Hampton Park, Charleston, South Carolina.

April 15, 2018

Sculptures engraved with local children’s drawings, maps of Charleston and images of plant life have been installed in Hampton Park, part of a new Art in the Parks program created by the Charleston Parks Conservancy in collaboration with Redux Contemporary Art Center and the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs.

The four large-scale pieces are made from colorful wood and transparent cast acrylic – the result of almost a year of work by Georgia-based artist Joseph Dreher (known as JOEKINGATL) and the Conservancy. Dreher received the Conservancy’s first ArtFields exhibition prize in April 2017. The annual award kicked off the Art in the Parks initiative, an effort to install temporary public art displays in Charleston city parks through collaborations with artists and arts organizations, including ArtFields.

The installation – called “Plant Vitae” – located on the southern edge of Hampton Park along Mary Murray Drive represents Charleston residents in a way that celebrates the people and the community. Dreher worked with children from schools near Hampton Park and the local Boys and Girls Club to create the portraits showcased in the final art pieces.

Using a “portrait partner” technique Dreher developed, the children created portraits of each other that become the basis of the sculptures. Dreher used colorful painted wood and transparent cast acrylic engraved with the children’s drawings, maps of Charleston and images of plant life.

Through a public-private partnership model, the Conservancy works with the city’s Parks Department as well as community leaders, neighborhoods and engaged citizens to transform and activate the city’s parks and green spaces.

The Conservancy also will be working on a public art project along the West Ashley Greenway and Bikeway, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Conservancy is partnering with the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs and local community groups on a creative placemaking effort, including a public art master plan and selection of artists to create public art and arts programming along the Greenway and Bikeway.

“We believe in connecting people to their parks, and art is a powerful tool to connect people to their environment and to each other,” says Harry Lesesne, the Conservancy’s executive director. “In the same ways public parks and green spaces are accessible to the entire community, we want public art projects to function in the same way – drawing people out into the parks and deepening their connection to their community and their neighbors.”

This Art in the Parks program is supported by contributions from The Speedwell Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Employees Community Fund of The Boeing Company, The Joanna Foundation, the City of Charleston and the Henry and Sylvia Yaschik Foundation.

Progress shots of the process working with wood and plexiglass on the CNC router.

a UNIQUE AUCTION that
CHALLENGES TALENTED ARTISTS
and DESIGN FIRMS to CREATE
PIECES of ART from HOUSEHOLD
FURNITURE

400 GUESTS from the BUSINESS,
DESIGN and ARTIST COMMUNITY

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018

the FOUNDRY at PURITAN MILL

EVERY PERSON DESERVES
a BED to SLEEP ON

Printed Artwork and T-shirts celebrating 6 years of IS Studio! This is the first installment of several shows by IS Studio. We would like to celebrate our anniversary by featuring artists in our community. Each event will feature a print of select artists and T-shirts will be available for sale to the public as a wearable medium of their art!

This event is FREE to the public and a great opportunity to plug in to the art community in Atlanta!

Mammal Gallery

February 3rd, 2018 at 7pm.

Featured artists:
Alaina Lyle
Anna Jenson
Brian Egan
Chilly-o
Chris Bates
Color Me Tone
Joe Dreher aka JOEKINGATL
Kris Pilcher
Leigh Ann Culver
Lotus Eaters
Matthew Walker
Squishiepuss

The Art of Nature was founded by the Women's Caucus of Art, Georgia Chapter. Currently, this exhibition is hosted by BHNP.

Each summer, we showcase artworks created by talented & local Atlanta artists. The art is placed outside around the Preserve.

ColorATL exists for the community of Atlanta to intimately connect with local art while experiencing the benefits of creative action. For years members of the ColorATL team have connected local artists with people in health facilities and marginalized communities throughout the city, constantly observing how the creative process decreases stress, anxiety, and despair - and cultivates peace, joy, hope and connection. 

We are a network of local creatives who harness and share the positive power of creativity. We believe all should have access to the stress-relieving, therapeutic benefits of creativity. AND we want to celebrate our local artists. Not only do we connect the greater Atlanta community with local and therapeutic arts, we also act as a resource and conduit to connective opportunities for our network of Atlanta-based artists.

Why coloring books?

With all the breakthrough we constantly see with therapeutic arts, the biggest hurdle remains: many self-proclaimed "non-artists" stare at a blank canvas and feel intimidated to begin.

This is why adult coloring books are so awesome: they provide an overall structure, yet allow for personal freedom within. Which is proven to be healthy for the mind and spirit.

ColorATL Artists

2017

Alex Laney - Andrew Catanese - Angie Jerez - Austin Blue - Blake Borowski - Brooke Powell - Catlanta - Charmaine Minniefield - Christine Nishiyama - Daniel Byrd - Dustin Cramer - Erin Palovick - Fabian Williams - Fahamu Pecou - Foxyswine - HENSE - Ill.Des - Janice Rago - JEL - Jeremy Brown - Joe Dreher - Josh LaFayette - Katherine Stockton - Katlin Shae - Killamari - Lindsay Ryden - Manty Dey - Maxwell Sebastian - Monica Alexander - Niki Zarrabi - Noosh - Rachel Eleanor - Sara Lehtman - Sarah Emerson - Scott Silvey - Shanequa Gay - Stenvik Mostrom - Tiffany Charesse - Tiny Doors ATL - Tori Tinsley - Travis Smith - Willis Norman  

2016

Adam Podber - Amber Guinn - Angela Davis Johnson - Avery Robinson - Barry Lee - Brandon Sadler - Chris Veal - Connor Dwyer - Danielle Ramos - David 'Doodleslice' Cohen - Edward Rowan - Estela Semeco - Federico Tobon - Geinene Carson - Jeremy Ray - John Tindel - Julio Ceballos - Kyle 'BlackCatTips' Brooks - Lacey Longino - Lauren Pallotta - Lela Brunet - Llucy Llong - Lucas Rocheleau - Mac Stewart - Matt Evans - Maxim Beeching - Michael Jones - Molly Rose Feeman - Nate Frost - Olive47 - Dozfy - Peter Ferrari - Phil Harris - R. Jean - Ross Boone - Sam Parker - Sanithna Phansava - Shannon Willow - Stephanie Lloyd - Stephanie Mma - Steven Anderson - William Massey - William Mize - Yoyo Ferro

A small pop up solo show of some new and old work and the final show for Metro Gallery in Studioplex. A nice wrap to the year after returning from Art Basel Miami. Thanks Walt!

WonderRoot’s Activist Screen Print Studio affects positive social change through the medium of screen printing. Visitors can receive a quick tutorial on how to screen print, learn more about WonderRoot’s mission and the importance of accessible messaging, and try their hand at making a print. This no-cost workshop space is open to the public and all-ages.

WonderRoot’s Activist Screen Print Studio is located at the WonderRoot Community Art Center at 982 Memorial Dr SE.

Open Studio Hours: WonderRoot hosts open studio hours where community members can help us make prints to be distributed around the city. Additionally, visitors can stop by anytime during our regular center hours to pick up prints that they would like to individually distribute or display.

Local artist collaboration: Each print initiative tackles a different social justice issue. WonderRoot burns designs by local artists onto screens that visitors can then use to create 11x17 screen printed posters. Each design is aesthetically imaginative and expresses a call to action.

Learning Space: WonderRoot dedicates a section of the studio to information about our current print initiative. In this way, we give a platform for people who are already doing important community work surrounding these topics--while also giving visitors a way to be more involved.

Collaboration with BlockheadATL

A Thin Veil. Tar Paper Stencil, Store Bought Flag, Light and Shadow on Wall. 2017 - Patriotism is being used by some as a veil for white supremacy and racism. Once again we have been reminded how thin that veil is and how ignorance, intolerance and hate still exist.

I had a dream. A dream about a mural. A dream about a mural without a wall. A dream about a mural without a wall and without paint. A mural that wasn't a mural by the definition we know. A mural of light and a mural of darkness. A mural that cast a shadow on the earth. I had a dream about a mural that was not a mural at all. I had a dream and then I built it and made it a reality. My wish for everyone is for you to make your dream your reality. With all the love in my heart I share my dream with you.

Works In Progress

Decatur Box Project - Part of an effort to beautify the environment and transform the ubiquitous traffic signal boxes located throughout the city into works of art.

CALVIN. The son of my friend Gail who I have known for sometime. Long enough to see her boy grow up and become a young man. Gail is a single mother and struggled to keep him on the right path but through her example and hard work saw him graduate, find employment and turn 18. This is as much a celebration of her as it is of her son and she will feel that when she sees it. In a time where social injustice towards young black men is so visible and we are mourning for those who have fallen, it is important to take a breath and celebrate those who are with us and tell them how much they matter.

Sponsored by The Friends of English Avenue with assistance from fellow Creative Project residents John Tindal, Meta Gary, Margaret Hiden with the kids and staff of Street Smart Youth Project and members of the community.

Throughout the year artists are asked to donate to charitable organizations.  This is a collection of work I have donated to places like The Hambidge Center for Creative Residencies, Museum of Contemporary Art Georgia ( MOCA GA), Decatur Education Foundation to name a few.

Several murals from the 2013 Living Walls, The City Speaks Conference were in need of some tender love and care so I gave them a little of both before Streets Alive Festival.  Murals by 3ttman, Know Hope, Marcy Starz and Gyun Hur. 

The Art of Nature is sponsored by the Blue Heron Nature Preserve and the Women's Caucus for the Arts GA.

William Massey III invited me along with some other talented artists to join him at the Kinship Cancer Institute to share some Time, Art and Fun with the patients and staff.

Artists are asked to donate a piece of furniture that has been embellished with there artwork to be auctioned for the Metro Atlanta Furniture Bank.

Commissioned in 2015 and painted during Art Basil Miami in Wynwood.

A collaboration with #weloveatl for Art on the Beltline.  The design for three outdoor gallery spaces in the form of a heart.

My contribution to The Salem Middle School Mural Project in progress.  The purpose of the project is to promote art in the schools and as a sustainable career for kids to consider.  The way athletes have sports to create teams and pride in community this project will give artists a way to work together and express themselves to others.  An ongoing series of artists, many doing their first murals will be painting and assisting the students with their murals.