Curtis Glover the Muralist

Curtis Glover is a well-known mural artist based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Our first project with Curtis was a large mural next to South Banks Apartments in South Knoxville. The artwork reflects the South Banks neighborhood and was challenging due to many aspects, which you can read about below. As our first artist spotlight, we asked Curtis to answer some questions, and we're excited to share his inspiring journey to artistic freedom and his experience with various projects.

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‍What inspired you to become a mural artist, and how did you get started in this creative field?

I've always had an interest in art but never really knew how to make it a career, as I had other interests like pursuing baseball in college. Once the real world hit after graduating and working in arts-related jobs, I reached a breaking point where I couldn’t work for someone else’s dream and had to pursue my own path.

Can you tell us about some of the most significant or memorable murals you've created in Knoxville? What themes or messages do they convey?

For me, the beginning was the Boyd’s Jig & Reel stage mural. I wasn’t full-time yet and was still deciding if doing murals was the right path. It was also the first official mural my dad saw before he passed. Next, was the koi fish wall at Jerry’s Artarama, my first time using spray cans. One represented a theme for a business, and the other was creative freedom. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any message to convey. Art should speak for itself aesthetically without having to label it, which is what I am trying to get away from in the commercial realm, but it’s tough.

The process of creating a mural can be quite complex. Can you walk us through the typical steps involved, from initial concept to the finished artwork on the wall?

I get leads through various forms of contact, mainly word-of-mouth, which are the best leads because someone has vouched for you. I also get random messages from people seeing previous work out in public. I take a deposit, go through the mock-up phase, plan accordingly, and go from there. I use spray cans and paint to blend content and sometimes offer a clear coat if the project calls for it.

Of all the murals you've created throughout your career, is there one that stands out as your personal favorite? If so, could you tell us which one it is and what makes it particularly special to you?

I was really happy with the pit bull mural I did in Memphis a couple of years ago because it brought to light the duality of pit bulls and their reputation. Some people praise them, whereas some people fear them, and I symbolically balanced out those two viewpoints nicely, I think.

Can you tell us about the inspiration and concept behind the mural you're currently working on next to South Banks apartments? What themes or elements are you incorporating into this specific project?

This project was being considered pre-Covid, so about four years in the making, basically. This mural, through numerous meetings and mock-up revisions, has settled on the culture and lifestyle that South Knoxville has become known for. Biking, outdoor activities, paddling, local breweries, sunflower fields, wildlife—it has it all.

Murals often have a significant impact on the atmosphere and identity of a neighborhood. How do you envision this mural contributing to the South Knoxville community and the overall aesthetic of the area?

My goal for this mural is to represent the people and places that everyone enjoys in this area. Leaning more on the activities and environmental factors of the terrain, I want people to see this wall and feel encouraged to explore and live a healthy and active lifestyle.

Could you share some details about the artistic techniques and materials you're using for this mural project? Are there any unique challenges or aspects of this particular location that influence your creative process?

I’ve made many scalable grids digitally to get the layout just right since it’s a massive wall with a curved surface. So far, it’s been painstaking to grid it all out and sketch the initial lines to make sure everything is where it needs to be. The metal spring bands and corrugated surface have also been a challenge, a highly annoying one, but here we are. Acid-etching was done to give the primer a tooth or rough surface for paint to attach onto when sprayed. I have to wear a sulfur dioxide meter on my body in case any dangerous fumes come my way. Also, the wind that cuts through the river area makes it hard to spray straight lines on the tank.

If you had to create a mural that represented your own life story in a single image, what would it depict?

A rollercoaster of ups and downs, high peaks to dark tunnels, and twisty turns in between. I just hope it’s a good ride.

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- Grete Y, Marketing Coordinator