Albany’s Art Trail gives visitors a chance to experience the city through the lens of public art.
From murals to museums, see Albany Georgia as a colorful and cultural hub.
Visitors can catch glimpses of massive masterpieces as they travel on busy roads between shops and restaurants, while some of the coolest pieces of art require travelers to take unexpected turns off those main roads. Whether you’re passing through or have time to stop and take it all in, Albany’s Art trail is worth viewing- in part or in full.
For road travelers, you’re sure to spot a mural no matter your route. Drivers are delighted to see public art as they travel on the underpass. Near the intersection of North Broadway Street and East Broad Avenue in Downtown Albany see the “Bridging the Community” mural. This mural was completed by Kris Letlow, Cameron Malphrus, and Josh O’Malley in 2015.
Albany’s list of murals is growing by the day. The most recent edition of Albany’s murals was painted by the Albany Museum of Art’s teen board. If you think the mural looks like a collage- you’re right! The teen board used the mural to bring drawings of Albany area elementary school students to life. The mural is located on a brick wall next to The Cookie Shoppe in Downtown Albany.
While you’re in Downtown Albany Georgia, explore events, attractions, and dining; a few of which visitors can see more art. After seeing a planetarium show or going to the newest exhibit at Thronateeska Heritage Center, visitors can see a mural painted on the wall of the former train depot. The mural pays homage to Albany’s train heritage. Near the Albany Civil Rights Institute, there is a mural where Whitney and Jackson streets intersect. This mural shows a woman surrounded by flowers. Another mural is hidden at the Flint RiverQuarium, it can be seen past the aviary exhibit and beside the tortoise enclosure.
While downtown you can also see Albany’s sculptures–each with a significant meaning to the city. Ray Charles Plaza invites visitors to sit awhile and listen to the music from Charles’ discography. The life-size sculpture of Charles is sitting at a piano and spins as the day goes by. Up the street, across from the Albany Welcome Center, you will find Albany’s founder Nelson Tift. You won’t find him in the flesh, but his portrait bust. Before you venture out of Downtown Albany, stop by the Albany Police Department to see their abstract sculpture of an eagle and read about its symbolic connection to law enforcement.
If you’re stopping for a bite to eat, The Bread House & Granary will fill you up and give you a chance to see another mural. As you are parking for lunch, you will spot the mural, “Curious Characters in the Woods” which shows a paved walkway with a forest filled with large green trees on both sides. In the forest painting, there are people with children in their arms and birds flying around. The artist Mark Dennard captured the strength and beauty of Albany before the storms brought by Hurricane Michael in 2017.
Regionally local artist Christoph Johnson is thanked for many of the murals that call Albany, Georgia, home. The plain walls he has transformed into masterpieces span from across Albany to communities around Georgia. The most “Instagrammable” of his murals is the Small Things mural at the Shoppes on Westover. On the side of a local beverage store, Bottoms Up! Wine & Spirits Boutique, 16 butterflies are painted in flight. This mural is a photoshoot favorite and can be seen across social media.
Chris Johnson draws inspiration from the city’s past and present. The Farmer, Field, and Animals mural in Downtown Albany, Georgia pays tribute to Albany’s steady connection and reliance on the agriculture industry. This artistic expression of Albany’s agricultural ties can also be witnessed at the Georgia Grown mural at G3 Athletics & Performance. The Georgia Grown mural is an outline of the state of Georgia with flowers and peaches blossoming from it.
Johnson’s artistic talents have even left their mark on one of Georgia’s Seven Natural Wonders, Radium Springs Gardens in Albany, Georgia. Along the Radium Springs trail and hovering above the natural springs is the Radium Springs Water Tower. Johnson took the canvas of the water tower and used it to tell the story of Radium Springs’ endurance through the trials of nature. The contrast of dark clouds and a fiery sky represents the Great Flood of 1994 and 1998 and the fire of 2003 that led to the Radium Springs casino’s demolition. Beyond telling the story of natural disasters, the mural showcases the beauty of nature’s strength. Characters on the mural include wildlife like turtles and a blue herring (one of the artist’s favorite animals), and Native Americans navigating water by canoe.
Johnson has also painted the “Home is Where..” mural on Albany’s Habitat for Humanity on Dawson Rd, “Life is Beautiful” mural off of Gillionville Road, and the Good Life city mural that has the word Albany written with florals. Each of Johnson’s murals helps residents and visitors to feel the movement that makes Albany a vibrant commerce and cultural hub.
Albany, Georgia is also home to Albany State University, a world-class HBCU and a supporter of the arts. At ASU, visitors can find a sculpture representing the vitality of HBCUs. This sculpture is called “Soil to Sun” and was designed by former ASU professor Arthur R. Berry. The sculpture sits in front of the Dr. Jospeh T. Holley Fine Arts Center on ASU’s East campus. Inside the center find the Arthur R. Berry Art Gallery.
Albany State isn’t the only school that proudly supports the arts in Albany. Lincoln Magnet Elementary has a giant multi-panel mural on its brick school building, said to be visible by approaching aircraft. The mural was made possible by the Georgia Council for the Arts Fabric Communities Grant gifted to the Albany Museum of Art. The mural was painted by Chris Johnson.
For a more personalized artistic experience, we suggest slowing down to visit the Albany Museum of Art. Check out their collection of sculptures outside or take a step in to see their rotating exhibits of art from the South and around the world. The Albany Area Arts Council in Downtown Albany gives visitors a chance to see art submitted by local artists for seasonal shows. Keep an eye out for the upcoming exhibits on the Albany Area Arts Council’s social media.
If you want to be the artist yourself, The Clay Spot gives people of all ages opportunities for creative expression through their clay pieces available to purchase and paint, canvas painting parties, or their annual summer camps.
Here’s a complete list of the stops along Albany’s Art Trail:
- Radium Springs Lift Station mural
- Albany State Fine Arts 504 College Dr Albany Ga 31701
- Bridging the Community mural 499-427 E Broad Ave
- Mural at 301 Jackson St
- Farmer, Field & Animals mural
- Albany Police Department Mural 201 W Oglethorpe Blvd Albany Ga 31701
- Albany Museum of Art Teen Board Mural (The Cookie Shoppe)
- Albany Area Arts Council 215 N Jackson St Albany Ga 31701
- Nelson Tift Portrait Bust 113 N Front St Albany Ga 31701
- Flint RiverQuarium mural 117 Pine Ave Albany Ga 31701
- Thronateeska Heritage Center mural 100 W Roosevelt Ave Albany Ga 31701
- Lincoln Elementary Magnet School mural 518 W Society Ave Albany Ga 31701
- Curious Characters in the Woods mural (The Bread House)
- Ray Charles Plaza
- Flint River mural 1600 S Jefferson St Albany Ga 31701
- Life is Beautiful mural 321 William Jr St
- Albany Museum of Art
- The Clay Spot
- Good Life City mural 2415 Dawson Rd
- Restore Habitat for Humanity mural 2620 Dawson Rd
- Small Things mural (Beautiful Butterflies) 719 N Westover
- Georgia Grown mural (G3 Athletics)
Looking for more artistic experiences AND free, fun things to do in Georgia? Check out the Albany Museum of Art where you can explore a collection of outdoor sculptures as well as rotating art exhibits from the South and around the world. Albany Museum of Art is open 10 am.-5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free every day. Albany Museum of Art, 311 Meadowlark Drive, Albany, Georgia 31707; 229-439-8400