As Atlantic City gears up to welcome summer visitors in the millions, the Atlantic City Arts Foundation (ACAF) is adding even more color and vibrancy to the cityscape with the completion and progression of several new public art installations. Much like residents preparing their shore homes for the season — from dusting off beach chairs to planting vibrant flowers — ACAF is ensuring the city looks its best with captivating art in its diverse neighborhoods as we spring into summer.
The ACAF, a nonprofit arts organization, is contributing to Atlantic City’s pre-summer refresh with public art that showcases our talented local art community and highlights civic improvements throughout the city.
“As our community anticipates the arrival of summer weather and visitors, we are thrilled to unveil these new additions to Atlantic City’s thriving art scene,” states Michael Atkins, executive director of the Atlantic City Arts Foundation. “With these and other public art projects, we’ve now reached an impressive 102 murals installed across the city. This rate of mural creation, per capita, keeps Atlantic City on pace with esteemed cultural mecca, Philadelphia, the mural capital of the world. There are many more public artworks that we look to install or refurbish throughout the city. We encourage everyone — locals, tourists and anyone coming down the shore — to explore these fantastic new artworks and to support ACAF’s continued efforts to enliven our city through public art. Visit our website, attend our upcoming events and become an active supporter of the arts in Atlantic City!”
Recent and upcoming projects include the playful “Z is for Zebra” by author and artist Stephanie Segal Miller. This mural, which draws from the artist’s children’s book “U is for Urial,” was originally installed in 2021 near Shore Park Hi Rise at 900 Mediterranean Ave. and is now freshly repainted by Miller and local artist assistants after necessary repairs to the wall.
One of the city’s largest and most iconic murals, “Close Encounters” by Charles Barbin, is slated for refurbishment to restore its vibrancy. Originally installed in 2018, this mural depicts a pod of jellyfish floating amongst a lively psychedelic backdrop. The Brigantine artist will touch up the paint and add new aesthetic elements throughout the piece at 7 S. South Carolina Ave., following restoration to the building’s exterior.
“Mind Power” by Luz Sanchez and Marcus Hughes will also undergo restoration. This mural at 111 N. Sovereign Ave. is one of ACAF’s earliest installs and shares messages of positivity and literacy for the adjacent Sovereign Avenue School students, where lead muralist Luz Sanchez graduated middle school. The artists will return to Atlantic City to restore and refresh the mural design.
These murals are the first of eight public art projects made possible through a grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) that funds the restoration of signature murals in the Inlet, Midtown and Chelsea neighborhoods. In addition to the NJEDA grant funding, these restorations are also supported by generous contributions from the Casiello Foundation and Destination Philly AC. The success of the ACAF mural program is made possible through an ongoing partnership with The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to protect completed public art murals against the elements and graffiti.
These partnerships are instrumental to the ACAF mission of engaging the community through public art, creating opportunities for working artists and further inspiring residents and visitors to connect with the city’s unique cultural identity.
