Virtual exhibition: Curtis Glover, Knoxville Muralist
By Krishna Adams, Director of Visual Arts, Craft, Media, and Design –
Curtis Glover, Virtual Exhibition
December 5, 2025, to January 23, 2026
Join us for the Online Artist Talk
Thursday, January 8, 2026 @ 11am CT /12pm ET
Curtis Glover did not go to art school to become a muralist. Yet, the self-taught artist has reshaped the visual identity of Knoxville and beyond, a feat recognized this year when the Tennessee Arts Commission awarded him the fiscal year 2026 Individual Artist Fellowship.
The fellowship supports Tennessee artists whose work contributes significantly to the arts in their communities and beyond, such as Glover. In 2012, he launched Curtis Glover Creative. Since shifting his focus entirely to large-scale public art in 2016, Glover has completed projects across Tennessee, Florida, Costa Rica and Canada. His murals, range from commercial commissions to large-scale public installations, and demonstrate a strong command of color, narrative, and community engagement. See the exhibition here.
“I didn’t go to art school to become a muralist,” Glover said. “I always had this ability but didn’t know how to turn it into a sustainable business model until public art became more popular.”
Glover, a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Asheville, holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication. His transition from general design to full-time mural work was catalyzed by the death of his father.
“He passed too soon and that made me realize nothing in life is guaranteed, so I decided to go for it,” Glover said.
That personal loss is visibly woven into his work. A mural created for the KnoxWalls and Dogwood Arts initiative features a bright red cardinal, representing his late father, and a bluebird symbolizing the women in his life.
“This one was particularly meaningful,” Glover said. “It’s a visual story that honors the loves in my life.”
Public Impact and Process
Glover’s work ranges from commercial commissions to educational installations. At Green Magnet Academy in Knoxville, he visualized the school’s STEAM curriculum—science, technology, engineering, arts and math—depicting a space shuttle, circuitry and molecules swirling around a glowing plant, cupped between two hands-symbolizing the growth of knowledge and innovation.
However, Glover cites a 5,000-square-foot mural on a corrugated metal tank in South Knoxville as his favorite project. Visible from downtown across the Tennessee River, the piece features sunflowers and wildlife reflecting the area’s outdoor lifestyle.
“That project was one of the most technically challenging,” he said. “The surface was curved and uneven, but it turned out beautifully.” The mural reflects the spirit of South Knoxville, featuring sunflowers, outdoor recreation, and wildlife. “It can be seen from downtown across the river.” Glover adds. “That visibility, and the way it represents the lifestyle of that area, made it really special to me.”
Glover noted that the physical demands of the job—weather delays, safety protocols and lift equipment—are invisible to the public, but the result makes the grueling logistics worthwhile.
“Finishing a mural is like leaving a part of yourself out there in public,” Glover said. The work can be grueling with weather delays, safety protocols, lift equipment, and all the behind-the-scenes logistics the public never sees, but he insists the payoff is worth it. “People I’ll never meet get to see my work. Whether it’s locals seeing it frequently or people traveling through, I feel as though I’ve made an impact. That’s powerful.”
Recognition and Future Projects
The FY2026 state fellowship adds to a growing list of accolades for Glover, including a 2023 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, an Orchid Award for his facade work on the Maker Exchange building in Knoxville (2023), Maker City Summit Guest Speaker (2022), UT Knoxville “Everywhere You Look” Campaign Artist (2021), Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk – People’s Choice Winner and T-Shirt Design Winner (2019), and Paint Memphis Muralist (2017–2023) among others.
His work has been featured in Cityview Magazine, Inside of Knoxville, Knox News, and Monroe Life, and he was recently profiled in a YouTube documentary on the impact of local artists.
He is currently collaborating with an architecture firm on a renovation project and designing artwork for a downtown Knoxville hotel. Recent works include a 50-foot mural for a student housing complex and participation in the Flint Public Art Project in Michigan.
Glover advises aspiring artists to engage deeply with their local creative scene.
“You can learn everything you need by doing the work,” he said. “It’s not just about painting, it’s about listening, planning, adapting and being part of something larger.” If you feel a strong urge to create, trust it,” Glover advises. “Life is short so you might as well leave your mark. Take the risk. Surround yourself with your local arts community, they’ll help you grow.”
