Public Art
Eye-catching Murals
Dozens of eye-catching murals add color to the fabric of our community through partnerships with individual property owners, the Decatur Arts Alliance, Living Walls, MARTA Artbound, the City of Decatur and other organizations. Murals are seemingly everywhere you look, but here are a few to get you started on your outdoor art crawl.
Outdoor Sculpture
Decatur Artway
The Decatur Artway, a rotating outdoor sculpture gallery, showcases ten sculptures throughout Decatur’s five business districts. Each sculpture is on loan for two years, creating a dynamic rotating collection with a few permanent pieces purchased by the city. Check out “Something We Had to Go Through,” a can’t-miss sculpture on Church Street at Sycamore and “Dreamsicle” in Harmony Park in Oakhurst.
The Decatur Artway is produced by the Decatur Arts Alliance.
Favorites Around the Square
Other pieces in the city’s collection include long-time favorites on the square including “Valentine” by George Lundeen. The bronze sculpture, located in front of the Old Courthouse, reflects the enduring love shared by two people. “Celebration” by Gary Price is dedicated to Mayor Emerita Elizabeth Wilson as a thank-you for her years as a community leader and more years serving as the city’s first African-American commissioner, and then mayor. It’s a popular spot for photos..
LookUp, Look Down, Look All Around
Unexpected Installations
Find art in unexpected places! First, #LookUpDecatur has timely new artworks installed on light poles. Then look down for Secret Doors Decatur, tucked into nooks and crannies around the city. (Start searching! Hints here.) At street intersections, spot traffic signal boxes, transformed into colorful, whimsical works of art by artists through the Decatur Box Project.
These interactive art projects are produced by the Decatur Arts Alliance.
The Decatur Arts Festival
In May celebrate all the arts! Our annual festival attracts 60K attendees from across the Southeast and beyond. Explore the diverse work of 120 artists at the juried, outdoor artist market, and enjoy hundreds of live music, dance, theatre, comedy performances too. It’s the “can’t miss” arts event of the year.
The annual Decatur Arts Festival is a showstopper, but Decatur’s art scene doesn’t end there! Look for annual exhibits including The Book As Art and Placita Latina: Latinx Artists Exhibition. Plus comedy shows, live music, spoken word, and pop-up performances throughout the year.
Galleries + Studios
