A vibrant new mural celebrating Atlantic City’s past has taken shape along Atlantic Avenue between Texas and California Avenues, across from Our Lady Star of the Sea. The piece, titled “Diving Horse,” is the latest addition to the city’s growing collection of public art and stands as a symbol of creativity, history, and community pride.
The project was brought to life by Create 48, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Zach Katzen in 2020. Katzen first began his public art journey in 2016 with the Atlantic City Arts Foundation, where he helped develop many projects and programs, such as the city’s mural program. When the foundation shut down during the pandemic, Katzen founded Create 48 to ensure the momentum of public art in Atlantic City didn’t fade.
“We had already established the mural program through the arts foundation, so we just continued on with that and kept pushing even more public art projects throughout Atlantic City and some in Pleasantville,” Katzen said.
The Diving Horse mural is a part of Create 48’s Historical Mural Project, which celebrates the city’s unique and often forgotten stories through public art.
“It’s intended to celebrate the history of Atlantic City and share the stories that may have been forgotten,” Katzen explained. “We want people to know where they come from and be proud of it by seeing our city’s history displayed proudly and beautifully.”
Katzen had long envisioned transforming the empty wall on Atlantic Avenue into a canvas. “I’ve seen that wall for years and always pictured a mural there,” he said. “It was just a matter of time and finding the right artist for the project.”
That artist was Humble: A New York–based painter who strives to find connection at the heart of every project, whether he is familiar with the area or not.
“Typically, my process starts with me forming some type of connection to the place,” he said. “If I’m going there for the first time, I spend time at the site, learn the history, and look for the feeling of the space.”
That feeling he felt, in Atlantic City’s case, was all about taking a leap.
“The energy and spirit of Atlantic City inspired me,” Humble shared. “You see it in the casinos, but also in the locals, the people who live there every day and keep rebuilding and banding together. Every time I’ve been there, I’ve felt that energy. I’ve been visiting for 15 years; my mother and I meet here, so it’s always been a special place to me.”
The mural took roughly seven to eight days to complete. Humble said the biggest challenge in projects of this scale is the logistics. Between permits, permissions, and planning, the logistics can take time, but he shared that with Create 48 and Katzen’s help, the process went smoothly.
“The community was super supportive,” he said. “It really felt like a homecoming, even though I’m not from here. Hearing stories from locals as I painted gave me a sense of pride that I was able to contribute to that history and give something back to the city.”
For Katzen, those community interactions are what make Create 48’s work so meaningful.
“That’s one of the best parts,” he said. “People stop by as we’re painting, they ask questions, share stories, and we get feedback in real time. It helps the community feel part of it and when they see the mural later, they feel a connection because they met the artist and watched it come to life.”
Humble hopes those who pass by “Diving Horse” feel the same energy he felt while creating it.
“At the end of the day, what we do as public artists is spread color and creative energy and I think that’s imperative for any community,” he said. “I hope people see it and question what’s possible. Maybe it makes them curious, maybe it makes them think about their city’s history instead of just walking past another blank wall.”
Through collaborations like the “Diving Horse” mural and Create 48 programs such as Fox & Friends, which connects Create 48 with artists from around the world, Katzen continues to ensure Atlantic City’s walls tell its stories.
“I love sharing the history of Atlantic City,” Katzen said. “It’s about celebrating where we’ve been, who we are, and showing that creativity and community can go hand in hand.”
Delaney Crawford is a dynamic entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling and digital marketing. Driven by a desire to empower local businesses, Delaney founded DLC Media, a company dedicated to helping businesses enhance their brand image and thrive online.
