Created by Adam Stephenson
Adam Stephenson is a multi-disciplinary artist best known for his murals and multi-media studio work. Originally from Decatur, Alabama, Adam moved to Little Five Points over 20 years ago. He lived in Inman Park for several years and now resides nearby in East Atlanta Village. Themes in his work include exploration, loss, and the indomitable human spirit.
A fan of the Festival for decades, Adam is in his second year as its featured artist. The artwork for both this year and last year features complex geometric construction inspired by local street art and graffiti–a passion since Adam first came to Atlanta. In 2023, the focal point was a butterfly with elements from the neighborhood’s iconic logo. Representing Inman Park since 1970, the butterfly with a face in each wing reflects the past and future and symbolizes the neighborhood’s constant transformation and evolution.
This year, Adam drew on his personal connection to the neighborhood for inspiration. He explored concepts featuring Springvale Park before landing on the historic Grand Dame that had been his next-door neighbor. The 1907 house at the corner of Hurt Street and Euclid Avenue is an apt choice to represent this dynamic neighborhood. It is currently undergoing its own metamorphosis as longtime neighborhood residents Julie and Jason Loring renovate and restore it.
Beyond the Festival, Adam is in the midst of his largest project to date: a six-story mural for a multi-use development in Nashville. Two years in the making, work on the wall begins this spring.
