“Southern Lighting” | North Atrium

2026, Neon on Board, 60 in x 40 in

Located on the North side of the atrium, near the north (Andrew Young Blvd.) lobby entrance, stands Southern Lighting in its neon glory. John Tindel explains the intention behind the piece – I wanted to leave my mark on the city that left its mark on me, so after thirty years of painting Atlanta I created an icon for it: a bolt of light with ATL at its heart, hanging in the building that once broadcast this city to the world, a mark made to say I was here, at the center of it all.

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about the artist

John Tindel

Atlanta, GA

John Tindel is an artist and designer who has spent the last two decades building a singular voice within the Dirty South’s contemporary art scene. A self-proclaimed sufferer of “obsessive creative disorder,” Tindel has become known for his layered, textural paintings that celebrate and critique Southern identity with sharp wit and visual storytelling.

Raised in Opelika, Alabama, and Panama City Beach, Florida, Tindel draws deeply from his Southern roots—incorporating family phrases, cultural idioms, and personal mythology into his work. His large-scale paintings are multilayered, multicolored, and multifaceted, pulling viewers into a world of bold pattern, surreal symbolism, and raw narrative. His smaller woodblock pieces often feature spray-painted quotes from his grandparents or vernacular Southern slang, highlighting the language and humor of the region. Whether through murals, exhibitions, or unexpected public art drops, Tindel has built a lasting presence in Atlanta and beyond. His murals line neighborhood walls, his studio has become a cultural outpost, and his work resides in the homes of dedicated collectors. With commissions for Google, Porsche, State Farm Arena and Cartoon Network, Tindel bridges the worlds of fine art and design with unapologetic Southern flair.

Through his studio and production company, The Imagination Bureau LLC, Tindel continues to hustle, paint, and share work that is as irreverent as it is introspective. His evolving inventory of original large-scale pieces and mural commissions can be found through the Imagination Bureau’s ongoing creative output.