17th South Magazine

Top Menu

  • Home
  • About US
    • Our Mission
    • Meet The Team
  • All Articles
  • Contact Us
  • Past Issues
  • Pick Up A Copy
  • Read The Current Issue Online

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Latest
  • Culture
  • Indulge
  • Happening
  • Living
  • Cover Story
  • Home
  • About US
    • Our Mission
    • Meet The Team
  • All Articles
  • Contact Us
  • Past Issues
  • Pick Up A Copy
  • Read The Current Issue Online

logo

Header Banner

17th South Magazine

  • Home
  • Latest
    • Artistic Acquisition

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • WESTSIDE WARES

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • PCM Premieres

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Burning Up

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Edge of Tomorrow

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • The High Gets Higher

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • COMEBACK KID

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • DYNAMIC DESIGN

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • European Experience

      November 1, 2018
      0
  • Culture
    • The Voice of Atlanta Radio

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Put a Sock on It

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Happy to Be Here

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Coming Up Roses

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Going Green

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • Stompin’ on the Westside

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • PAINTING THE TOWN

      September 27, 2018
      0
    • EAT WITH YOUR EARS FIRST

      September 27, 2018
      0
    • Atlanta-based designer Megan Huntz

      Fashion, Forward

      August 23, 2018
      0
  • Indulge
    • A Modern Classic Menu

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Drinks on Demand

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Family Affairs

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Food News - March / April 2019

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • A SEASONAL BITE

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Happening Hood Hangout

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • How Sweet It Is!

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Cozy Up, Drink Up

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Food News - JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2019

      January 10, 2019
      0
  • Happening
    • ATLANTA ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • THE GREAT RACE

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • FASHION FORWARD

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • LE JARDIN FRANÇAIS WINTER FLORAL DESIGN CLASS

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • 2019 ATLANTA BIENNIAL

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • VIRGINIA-HIGHLAND TOUR OF HOMES

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • YOUR BEST LIFE

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • MOSCOW BALLET’S GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER - DOVE OF PEACE TOUR!

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • BOO AT THE ZOO

      September 27, 2018
      0
  • Living
    • Minnesota's Shopping Mecca

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Treasured Acquisition

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Preserving the Past

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Cajun Country Culinary

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Spring Forward

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • West Highlands Retreat

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Highly Addictive Beauty

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • A Dose of the Ocean

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • A Gangbuster Alabama Getaway

      January 10, 2019
      0
  • Cover Story
    • BOOZY BLASTOFFS

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • BRUNCH BUCKET LIST

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • CREAM OF THE CROP

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • GET CRACKING

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • GLOBAL BEGINNINGS

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • LAST THINGS FIRST

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • RISE & SHINE …

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Matt Gryder and Matthew Fishman

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Antonio Brown

      January 10, 2019
      0
  • BOOZY BLASTOFFS

  • BRUNCH BUCKET LIST

  • CREAM OF THE CROP

  • GET CRACKING

  • GLOBAL BEGINNINGS

  • LAST THINGS FIRST

  • RISE & SHINE …

CreatorsCulture
Home›Culture›Creators›Mobile Murals

Mobile Murals

By 17thSouth
July 21, 2016
9112
1
Share:

Candler Park artist William Massey is creating buzz with an unusual canvas: cars.

You’re driving along Ponce when a giant eagle feather flies past in the left lane. Or maybe some sunflowers and a Nepali peace flag sail by. If so, you’ve probably just seen a painted car from the collection curated by Candler Park artist William Massey.

Since 2014, Massey has been introducing local artists to car owners wanting to add some personalized art to their cars. How did the Atlanta sculptor become the match.com for painted cars?

“It happened after returning from a trip to India,” Massey explains. “I was intrigued by how people painted what they wanted to share on their cars. It might be ‘I have a blind spot; please honk,’ or a depiction of the god that they worship or a family crest. It wasn’t really what they put on the car, just the fact that they did it, that they weren’t scared or ashamed to alter the factory paint job with something they felt the need to share.”
william-4139Massey liked the concept so much that when he got home, he painted his own car gray, getting it ready for when inspiration struck. It didn’t take long. Two weeks later, Massey was having an art exhibit. He parked his car, put out an array of paints and told everyone there to have at it. “It was crazy, but fun,” he says.

Afterward, as he drove his multi-colored car around Atlanta, Massey started thinking: What if he made the painting more intentional? He asked an artist friend if he would create a mural on his car, painting whatever he wanted. The answer was an excited “yes.”

“It came out almost the opposite of my personality, with a sort of Japanese anime feel. It was fun because it was different. A couple of weeks later, a friend asked if I could find an artist for their car, and a few weeks after that, another, and the trend has just continued,” says Massey. He named the project Car Canvas. “I haven’t pushed for it to grow; it did it on its own.”

So far, Car Canvas has produced about a dozen uniquely painted autos and one 45-foot bus. Eight more cars are on the docket.

Like the moving murals, the business model is not typical. No money changes hands. Massey explains it this way: “I love connecting people and getting art out into the world in a fresh way. Car owners get to share something they love. And artists get more exposure than they would from a giant billboard.

The best part is when I roll down the road, people just light up. It literally creates joy in the places I go. Women say, ‘That is so cute.’ Men are like, ‘That’s dope,’ Kids say, ‘Mom, look at that cool car.’ Everyone can relate in some way.”

Along with Car Canvas, Massey is an established artist, known for his large-scale, found-art sculptures. His third and current installation on the Atlanta BeltLine, “The Art of Reconciliation,” involved more than 200 people, “hipsters, homeless, veterans, kids,” in its creation. The sculpture embodies Massey’s commitment to bringing people together through art.

“I live at the crux of business and joy,” he says, “and joy always trumps money in my mind.”

To see more, visit williammasseyart.com or follow @carcanvas on Instagram.

STORY: Laurel-Ann Dooley
PHOTO: Scott Reeves

Tags@carcanvas on Instagramart exhibitAtlanta BeltLineCandler Park artist William MasseyCar Canvasfound-art sculptureslocal atlanta artistsmoving muralsmulti-colored car around AtlantaPHOTO: Scott Reevesuniquely painted autos“The Art of Reconciliation”
Previous Article

Shape Shifter

Next Article

From The Editor – August 2016

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • Uncategorized

    THE SIXTH ANNUAL OLD FOURTH WARD ARTS FESTIVAL

    April 26, 2018
    By 17thSouth
  • LivingPeople

    Curtain Up !

    August 25, 2016
    By 17thSouth
  • LatestNOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017Openings & Arrivals

    BARK TAVERN

    November 2, 2017
    By 17thSouth
  • Uncategorized

    A Real Piece of Work

    July 6, 2017
    By 17thSouth
  • Lindsay Lambert Day
    From The Editor

    From The Editor – August 2016

    July 21, 2016
    By 17thSouth
  • CreatorsCultureSeptember 2017

    Designing Backward and Forward

    August 24, 2017
    By 17thSouth

1 comment

  1. Linda Aksomitis 10 August, 2016 at 01:34 Reply

    Car art is great — it’s even a few steps beyond wraps, which are taking the snowmobile world by storm as everyone personalizes their sleds. Thanks for sharing the interview.

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You may also be interested in...

  • IndulgeReviewSEPTEMBER 2018

    VIVID EATS

  • JANUARY 2018LivingOut Of Town

    Playa del Pampering

  • CultureHeadlinersOCTOBER 2018

    EAT WITH YOUR EARS FIRST

Visit Our Sister Publication

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates and to hear what's going on with our magazine!

Follow us

Instagram @17thSouth

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No feed found.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.

Find us on Facebook

logo

17th South:
In the heart of Atlanta,17th South magazine reaches active, exploration-minded residents ages 24-65 who want to experience the best the area has to offer, through stories and features on individuals and businesses they can relate to in their direct communities. We feature of-the-moment and hidden gem restaurants, beautiful private homes, philanthropy, arts and cultural offerings, and the trendsetters and tastemakers who are making it happen!
Valuestream Media Group
simply-buckhead-magazine
17th-south-magazine

Contact Us

  • P.O. Box 11633, Atlanta, GA 30355
  • 404.538.9895
  • advertising@17thsouth.com

Find us on Facebook

Follow us

17th South Instagram

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No feed found.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Pick Up A Copy
© Copyright 17th South. All rights reserved.