ArtPop Street Gallery Announces Charlotte Cities Program Class of 2025
A look at the art that will adorn our highways in the coming year
ArtPop Street Gallery, a 501c3 nonprofit organization working to increase artist and community access to art across the Charlotte region for more than a decade, has announced its Cities Program Class of 2025.
The group will receive a collective $8.5 million in outdoor advertising space over the next year, with their work adorning area billboards and other public spaces on a rotating basis.
The class of 20 artists — 19 adults and one high school senior — come from Mecklenburg and Union counties in North Carolina as well as York County, SC.
High school senior Ellie Ko of Marvin Ridge High School will receive the same benefits as adult artists along with scholarship funds to pursue an arts degree.
“As we enter our 12th year of service, we remain committed to providing our community with access to art every day of the year,” said Wendy Hickey, founder and executive director of ArtPop Street Gallery, in a press release on Monday. “We are excited to welcome this incredibly talented class into the #ArtPopCLT program and hope these artists continue to grow their businesses and have their best year yet.”
The organization will begin installing the artists’ work in early January on local and national billboards, digital screens along highways, retail developments, office buildings and other public venues announced throughout the year. The donated advertising space is provided by Adams Outdoor Advertising, Awedience Media, Lamar Advertising, and other media partners.
“In 2024, our Cities Program artists reached more than a billion media impressions,” said Brooke Gibbons, ArtPop’s director of impact and sustainability. “Imagine the impact of that art in beautifying our community and making Charlotte a unique place to live.”
Founded in 2014 by Hickey, the organization has showcased local artists and given them the tools and funding to achieve sustained success through its four programs: Cities Program, Inspiration Projects, Upcycling Initiative and Community Events.
ArtPop’s annual Upcycled Fashion show has showcased local designers who repurpose retired billboards created by Cities Program artists into unique, wearable designs to be showcased in the fashion show and fundraiser.
Read more: ArtPop’s Upcycled Fashion Show Serves Sustainable Looks in Fourth Year
ArtPop Street Gallery’s Cities program has promoted more than 200 Charlotte-region artists with millions of dollars of advertising space since its launch.
Below are each of the artworks from ArtPop Cities Program Class of 2025. We’ve included links to where you can see more of each artist’s work as well as the title and medium used for the piece.
To learn more ArtPop Street Gallery and this year’s Cities Program artists, visit the website.
