Kevin Cole on the ’96 Olympic Mural, Necktie Motifs, and the Artist’s Journey

Kevin Cole is an artist, a sculptor, a muralist, creative, Teacher of the Year, philanthropist, self-believer, death threat survivor, and an incredibly genuine human being. His works are featured in 5,000 collections around the world, including the Atlanta Airport and City Hall, and pursuing his dream has led him to places he never thought he’d see. Kevin describes his art as sound boards for human experiences, which is why I’m so drawn to them. They capture moments in time and tell a real story. They’re thought provoking. And they’re about people and their stories, which is exactly what we’re doing here. When Atlanta hosted the Olympics in 1996, it was Kevin who was tapped by the Coca-Cola company to create a 15-story mural that would introduce Atlanta to the world. It’s truly an iconic piece of work. You can see a picture of it here. In his own words, he describes what that process was like and why it had to be completed in a unique way and the challenges that arose. He also shares why he credits his mom for becoming an artist, reveals what it was like during the beginning of his artist’s journey, what it looked and felt like, and ultimately how he carved a life for himself with his creations and built his business. Later, he shares his creative process and how he taps into creator mode, sheds some light on the intersection of commercialization and art, a wild story about how he narrowly missed 9/11, how to get out of a creative slump, and finally, his realest talk. Thank you, Kevin, for the time, the conversation, and everything you shared. All love baby. You can follow him on Instagram @kevincole2378, check out his website kevincoleart.com to see more of his work, and if you enjoy this episode, please drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building up this community.