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THE PUBLIC ART LIFE
Since 1991 I have been painting murals, I started in a summer Program at Gallery 60 at the Blvd Art Center in Englewood. I developed more and started to work at Gallery 37 for a few Downton summers. I eventually became an instructor with After School Matters leading mural and graphic design projects with teens. I also started to paint graffiti murals and do movie backdrops around the same time. Being exposed to both worlds greatly influenced my art. I feel my work has a great balance of pattern, text, and characters, in my compositions. Currently, I am an Illinois Arts Council Fellow, and I paint with The Englewood Art Collective (Cofounder), The #Muralsrus crew, and the Chicago Public Art Group.
Below are a few of my favs over the years. Please reach out through my contact tab to get a quote, or for a consultation for a project.
“Freedom to just be” (2025) by Pugs Atomz
5’ x 10’ Acrylic on MDO board 2025
I created a mural to honor the life of Eugene Williams for the 5th annual Sunset 1919 ritual yesterday. It was a deep, and powerful experience. Thanks @doctaslick @8wdhz and Looking Glass Theatre for having me be a part of this event. @yaws_world @violinistcaite @rhythmninjadrums @kopanoart all performed in unison and created beautiful sound space and movement to pay tribute to the life of Eugene Williams, who’s tragic death by a mob of white swimmers in Lake Michigan near 31st St. beach ignited the 1919 Chicago Race Riots.
The pride of Chatham (2024) by Pugs Atomz
7’ x 14’ powder coated steel. Location: Whitney M. Young Library 79th King Drive
It’s finally finished!!!! “The pride of Chatham “I started this project back in 2021 for The Whitney Young Brach Library (415 E 79th St.) to celebrate some of great people and places of the neighborhood. I held a workshop as well as community meetings to get input and feedback of how to best represent this. It ended up better than I could ever imagine. Thanks Mr. Smith and Library Staff, Brett and Nathan of @chicagodcase, Matt and the crew, Nedra and all the community members that helped me on this. This is my first large scale sculpture. Can’t wait to do more. Stop by and see it and catch a photo. All the pieces move btw.
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Woodlawn strong (2022) by Pugs Atomz x Damon Reed Bricolage on FIVE cement planters 3' x 4' x 4'
Leading up to the entrance of the Friends Health Center at 63rd and Cottage Grove by Pugs Atomz and Damon Lamar Reed. Our collaboration consisted of a series of brightly colored mosaic planters depicting keywords and imagery from neighbors, symbolizing the importance of history, resiliency and strength in the Woodlawn community over the years. We did this project in partnership with Chicago Public Art Group.
You got this! (2023) by Pugs Atomz,
Acrylic on brick 11’ x 20’
I partnered with Gyrls in the H.O.O.D. for this mural. I wanted to capture the thing I always see
whenever I stop by. They are always pouring into young women and girls of our community. Creating programs and offering all the things they need for Free 99. This mural is also part of my NAP Grant initiative that started an arts corridor on 71st Street from King Drive to Cottage Grove. Thanks to DCASE and CPAG for the initial support. We are up to 7 murals right now, from King drive to Cottage.
Peace, Paz, Pokój, Myr (2022) by Pugs Atomz,
14’ x 14’ Acrylic on concrete
The Greenwald Company commissioned me to paint a mural on the front of their building. They wanted something to address the hate speech that was developing in their neighborhood about the Ukrainian / Russian war. When I showed my idea they loved it, and the project was done in three days. The playing cards spell out Us, you, we, together.
Afro futuro (2020) by Pugs Atomz,
Chalk on concrete 25Ft x 10Ft
For holiday 2020, @Lexus commissioned me to create a chalk mural at their dealership in Orland Park for “The Art of the Driveway” campaign. Super excited to share my work, roughly 25Ft x 10Ft . This was my first chalk mural, I think it came out great. But the best part of this is you can be a part of this was raising money for Toys for Tots . For each positive social media post using #GiveAmazing from December 1, 2020 to January 4, 2021, Lexus donated $200 per eligible social media post to Toys for Tots, the final donation was $100,000.
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Very happy to contribute to
the @luv_institute Parade of
hearts public art project, You can see mine on the southeast corner of 71st & South Chicago. Each artist was tasked with capturing the community’s vision of a new normal and the path towards collective healing.
Love and more life Sculpture (2022) by Pugs Atomz 5’ x 5’ x 3’ acrylic and spray paint on fiber glass
Live learn play (2021) by Pugs Atomz,
27’ x 243’ on each side of the building (printed digital mural)
Proud to share my work with Maestro Cares for the Live Learn Play mural. We believe that every child deserves a safe place to live, learn, and play. They partnered with Wintrust to share their mission with the Chicagoland community. As a kid I always wanted to paint the Chicago Mural building, I still remember when they painted Jordan, Scottie, and Rodman of The Chicago Bulls on the building during their 6-ring streak. So, when this opportunity arose and my idea was announced as the winner, I was overjoyed to check this historical spot of my bucket list. I wanted to keep the artwork fun and use bold color combinations.
Please Visit the mural website to learn more about the mural, me and Maestro Cares. https://maestrocares.org/wintrust-mural-2021/
Our Englewood mural (2021) by Pugs Atomz,
Cujo Dah, Janell Nelson, Tanika Johnson & Just Flo
We (Englewood Arts Collective), winners of Mayor Lori Lightfoot's INVEST South/West public art initiative for the Englewood corridor at 58th and Halsted. We designed banners and painted a mural on both sides of the viaduct from community input. Halloween day that year we held a community paint day. We partnered with R.A.G.E for logistics, Brown Books and Paintbrushes for programming, and a host of other Orgs. www.ourenglewoodmural.com
Sound of Memphis mural (2016) 100 South Main St Memphis, TN. by Damon Lamar Reed assisted by Pugs Atomz
Such a fun experience learning about Memphis and its rich history. Some key moments are depicted as stickers on the guitar case. It took us a about a week and change to knock this one out 20 feet x 50 feet. Fun fact Damon and I have been painting together since 1998.
Change mural (2020) by Cujo Dah, Pugs Atomz, and Just Flo
For the Englewood Art Collective's Envison Englewood pop up Art amusement park, we pulled up to paint day of the event and finished midway through the event. Each artist brought a design, and we made them cohesive on the spot. I did the middle portion and some of the background using my Afro Futuro pattern and Change logo form my USUWE 93 crewneck that dropped around the same time. Cujo did the top and character to the left and Just Flo did the scene to the right. This was our first time painting together and it was an amazing day from neighbors and children enjoying the activities and views of the artwork being completed.​​
Rob Smooth did a beat making workshop, and Jovanna Jackson did and mosaic workshop, with Dj Dap on the soundtrack.
Envision Englewood pop up Art amusement park 2020
Shot by cinematographer ADåD of EAC, this video is a little snippet of the energy and love that came out of our Envision Englewood pop-up art amusement park event August 8th on 66th and Halsted in Chicago, IL.. Englewood Arts Collective
members partnered with Community org R.A.G.E, and collabed with organizations: Made in Englewood, Alt_Chicago, and We All Live Here to transform a vacant lot locally known as a "hotspot"
for violence into a day of art, healing and community. The abandoned store front has since reopened since our activation.
Learn more at englewoodartscollective.com
Dance mural (2017) by Pugs Atomz, assisted by Damon Lamar Reed
I was paired with Englewood neighbor Tina Hammond for the city of
Chicago Vacant Lot Program to do a mural on her newly purchased
vacant lot. She transformed the lot to a community space now known
as the Hammond ’ s Promise land, where neighbors host events. I did
the first mural there in 2017 and now there's a full gallery of murals &
a gazebo with flowers in abundance. Last year I even performed at an
open mic there sponsored by My Block My Hood My City. The mural
I painted was inspired by Tina’ s late sister, who loved dancing and was
a praise dancer at her Church.​ It features her sister and the names of
famous dancers throughout black history. We bop, we step, we love,
we dance. The mural is 6ft x 14ft in acrylic on non-woven.
Englewood Pride & Dreams for the Chicago Transit association
Happy to have my art installed at the Ashland 63rd St Greenline station In Englewood I started painting murals at 14 a few blocks away at the Boulevard Arts Center and threw my first ever concerts and parties there as well. I used to ride the train and see tags, graffiti murals, and I always wanted to have something permanent on the line. In 2019 I was commissioned to create these pieces. This piece on the left is called Pride the other is called Dreams 2019 dedicated to the neighborhood that raised me, and where I meant my crew members. Thanks to the CTA and project manager @faheemmajeedstudio of the Floating Museum. ​Each light box is 42" x 56" x 6"