Local artists add life, color to parts of Atlantic Beach through murals

ATLANTIC BEACH — A group of artists with “ArtRepublic” are adding more color and life to Atlantic Beach one mural at a time.

To the roughly 20 local and out-of-town artists, their murals are more than paint on walls. Their artwork is an expression of who they are and what they add to their communities.

”It has given me a responsibility in what I do to try to give back to the community with a positive perspective. It’s so powerful,” local artist Steven Teller said.

Teller is one of more than a dozen artists painting with ArtRepublic, a local agency that brightens up spaces with art. You’ve probably seen the more than 50 large-scale murals throughout Downtown Jax. Now, the group has partnered with Atlantic Beach, adding life to a cluster of old storage buildings.

Christian Saravia, an artist with ArtRepublic, says the goal in adding art to spaces is to make people feel more welcome.

”Before, it was an eye sore, it was even scary,” he said.

Saravia has been painting murals for decades. He and his team transform the spaces they touch.

”It changes the energy of the area around it,” Saravia added.

His daughter, 17-year-old Ange Saravia finds inspiration in painting alongside world-class artists. To her, art isn’t just a form of self expression, it’s a way to give back to the community.

”It brings light to areas, it’s a lot of fun, people interact with them very well,” she said.

All can agree, the main mission is to evoke a feeling in the hearts of those who see their art.

ArtRepublic will hold a live music event at Reve Brewery, 1237 Mayport Road in Atlantic Beach, and at the new murals Saturday, along with a party at One Ocean, 1 Ocean Boulevard in Atlantic Beach, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. You can get tickets here: https://linktr.ee/artrepublic.

The murals are located in The Cultural Corridor Atlantic Beach at 1800 Mayport Road.

Cox Media Group