Joseph McKinney is a visual artist whose figurative paintings, prints, and murals examine identity, history, and the complexities of the human condition. Working primarily in oil, acrylics, and woodcut, his practice explores psychological dualities, inherited trauma, and how bodies carry memory and meaning. Through dynamic compositions and vivid color, McKinney’s work challenges dominant visual narratives while creating space for strength, sensitivity, and transformation.
He has received recognition for his contributions to public art in Atlanta, including a mural created in collaboration with artists from nine countries honoring lives lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. His mural, "The Seeds Were Planted So You Can Dream," earned him a Proclamation from the Atlanta City Council for its impact on civil rights education and community engagement.
McKinney is currently working on Truth and Transformation, a public art commission with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, which addresses the history of forced labor at the Bellwood Quarry and Chattahoochee Brick Site. He recently earned his M.F.A. in Painting from Georgia State University, where he now teaches courses in drawing and painting. His latest thesis exhibition reimagines the representation of the male psyche, repositioning its struggles and inner complexities within both historical and contemporary frameworks.
