Atlanta (CNN) -- This Southern city is welcoming Super Bowl visitors with a sprawling new public art exhibit -- up to 30 murals from 11 different artists -- inspired by Atlanta's civil rights struggles.

The murals adorn walls and buildings throughout neighborhoods near downtown, not far from historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. was a pastor, and shiny new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which will host the game February 3.

Called "Off The Wall: Atlanta's Civil Rights & Social Justice Journey," the project is a collaboration between the Super Bowl Host Committee and WonderRoot, a local arts advocacy group. It seeks to spark a dialogue around social justice movements.

"It's crucial for people to see how Atlanta has grown and these murals are the best way for us to tell these stories," says Chris Appleton, WonderRoot's co-founder and executive director.

Shanequa Gay's mural, "<strong>Excuse me while I kiss the sky</strong>," adorns the Vine City station on MARTA, the city's subway system. Although the mural looks festive and colorful, it has a serious message about the homeless people who sleep under Atlanta's canopy of trees. "Under that vegetation you will see homeless people sleeping," said Gay, who was inspired by meeting some homeless Atlanta children. "You don't attach kissing, or emotion, to homeless people, but they are still human."
Shanequa Gay's mural, "Excuse me while I kiss the sky," adorns the Vine City station on MARTA, the city's subway system. Although the mural looks festive and colorful, it has a serious message about the homeless people who sleep under Atlanta's canopy of trees. "Under that vegetation you will see homeless people sleeping," said Gay, who was inspired by meeting some homeless Atlanta children. "You don't attach kissing, or emotion, to homeless people, but they are still human."
Audra Melton for CNN
Ernest Shaw's "<strong>Atlanta Strong</strong>," at the Home Depot Backyard next to Mercedes Benz Stadium, is a tribute to women. Shaw wanted to honor the role women play in the fight for human rights. "I believe we are in the time of the holy feminine," said the Baltimore artist about his inspiration. "Feminine energy is slowly moving into power."
Ernest Shaw's "Atlanta Strong," at the Home Depot Backyard next to Mercedes Benz Stadium, is a tribute to women. Shaw wanted to honor the role women play in the fight for human rights. "I believe we are in the time of the holy feminine," said the Baltimore artist about his inspiration. "Feminine energy is slowly moving into power."
Audra Melton for CNN
Yehimi A. Cambrón Álvarez created this mural, "<strong>Monuments: We Carry the Dreams</strong>," on Piedmont Avenue. It focuses on the stories of Atlanta's undocumented youth. "We always carry the dreams our parents and grandparents have for us," says the Mexican immigrant. "And when we have opportunities or platforms to share our stories very loudly, we are going to do so because our parents won't get the opportunities that we do."
Yehimi A. Cambrón Álvarez created this mural, "Monuments: We Carry the Dreams," on Piedmont Avenue. It focuses on the stories of Atlanta's undocumented youth. "We always carry the dreams our parents and grandparents have for us," says the Mexican immigrant. "And when we have opportunities or platforms to share our stories very loudly, we are going to do so because our parents won't get the opportunities that we do."
Audra Melton for CNN
The 11 muralists were required to attend community meetings to learn more about Atlanta's history before they developed their ideas. Each mural was sponsored by a different organization and cost $30,000 to $40,000 to create.
The 11 muralists were required to attend community meetings to learn more about Atlanta's history before they developed their ideas. Each mural was sponsored by a different organization and cost $30,000 to $40,000 to create.
Audra Melton for CNN
"<strong>Beloved Community</strong>," a mural at 222 Mitchell Street by the Loss Prevention Arts Collective, includes a quote from American author, feminist and social activist Gloria Jean Watkins, better known as bell hooks. The mural celebrates "a vision of social justice and harmony that Martin Luther King was committed to and one that we must remain committed to today," Loss Prevention Arts Collective said.
"Beloved Community," a mural at 222 Mitchell Street by the Loss Prevention Arts Collective, includes a quote from American author, feminist and social activist Gloria Jean Watkins, better known as bell hooks. The mural celebrates "a vision of social justice and harmony that Martin Luther King was committed to and one that we must remain committed to today," Loss Prevention Arts Collective said.
Audra Melton for CNN
Muhammad Yungai works on his mural, "<strong>Community Roots</strong>," at 460 Nelson Street. "I want to show my daughter that character matters. It always matters." said the Atlanta artist. "The type of society that we want to build is hinged upon how we value character."<br />
Muhammad Yungai works on his mural, "Community Roots," at 460 Nelson Street. "I want to show my daughter that character matters. It always matters." said the Atlanta artist. "The type of society that we want to build is hinged upon how we value character."
Audra Melton for CNN
Loss Prevention Arts Collective did these twin murals, "<strong>Intersectional Heroes</strong>," on the Metropolitan Building at 20 Marietta Street. The murals honor Dázon Dixon Diallo, an Atlanta advocate for sexual and reproductive justice and a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS; and <br />Joan Garner, a Fulton County Commissioner who spent decades advocating for LGBT rights.
Loss Prevention Arts Collective did these twin murals, "Intersectional Heroes," on the Metropolitan Building at 20 Marietta Street. The murals honor Dázon Dixon Diallo, an Atlanta advocate for sexual and reproductive justice and a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS; and
Joan Garner, a Fulton County Commissioner who spent decades advocating for LGBT rights.
Audra Melton for CNN
New Orleans artist Brandan "B-Mike" Odums created this mural, "<strong>Love and Protection</strong>," on Mitchell Street. With the words "Me = We" written next to a portrait of two kids hugging, Odums celebrates the power of friendship and togetherness.
New Orleans artist Brandan "B-Mike" Odums created this mural, "Love and Protection," on Mitchell Street. With the words "Me = We" written next to a portrait of two kids hugging, Odums celebrates the power of friendship and togetherness.
Audra Melton for CNN
Yehimi A. Cambrón Álvarez painted a mural on the American Hotel in downtown Atlanta. "I'm Mexicana, undocumented, a woman, and young. Atlanta is more than just black and white, and we won't be able to achieve justice if the conversations continue to be so binary," said the DACA recipient and high school art teacher. "It's a very powerful thing to be able to thrive while being undocumented. I wanted to focus on that so other people who might not feel that way yet can see that there is a way to (succeed) even as a undocumented person."
Yehimi A. Cambrón Álvarez painted a mural on the American Hotel in downtown Atlanta. "I'm Mexicana, undocumented, a woman, and young. Atlanta is more than just black and white, and we won't be able to achieve justice if the conversations continue to be so binary," said the DACA recipient and high school art teacher. "It's a very powerful thing to be able to thrive while being undocumented. I wanted to focus on that so other people who might not feel that way yet can see that there is a way to (succeed) even as a undocumented person."
Audra Melton for CNN
Shanequa Gay works on her mural, "<strong>Remembering how Sweet Auburn is</strong>," at 454 Irwin Street. The mural is a tribute to one of Atlanta's oldest and most prosperous black neighborhoods. "I asked myself, 'What happened to the people that used to live here?' Auburn was one of the wealthiest African American communities in this nation during the time of its development," Gay said. "So I wanted to remind people of its history."
Shanequa Gay works on her mural, "Remembering how Sweet Auburn is," at 454 Irwin Street. The mural is a tribute to one of Atlanta's oldest and most prosperous black neighborhoods. "I asked myself, 'What happened to the people that used to live here?' Auburn was one of the wealthiest African American communities in this nation during the time of its development," Gay said. "So I wanted to remind people of its history."
Audra Melton for CNN