Eley Expands Into Public Space: Afronauts Selected for MARTA Artbound
Photography in the
Flow of the City
I’m excited to share that my series Echoes of Resilience: Afronauts is expanding into public space.
Beginning in April, selections from the series will be featured through Artbound, the public art program presented by MARTA in Atlanta. Artbound transforms transit stations into cultural experiences, placing the work of local artists directly into the daily rhythm of the city.
For me, this opportunity represents more than an exhibition. It represents the idea that photography can live beyond gallery walls and become part of everyday life.
Public transit systems are spaces where thousands of lives intersect every day. People move through them on their way to work, school, home, and community.
Artbound brings art into that movement.
Instead of asking audiences to visit a museum or gallery, the work appears within the natural pace of the city. Art becomes something encountered in passing, something that sparks curiosity, reflection, or recognition during an ordinary moment.
That accessibility aligns deeply with the way I think about photography.
Images should not only exist in curated spaces. They should live where people live.
The Story Behind Afronauts
Echoes of Resilience: Afronauts explores identity, imagination, and resilience through cinematic portraiture.
The series draws inspiration from Afrofuturism and the long tradition of Black imagination that reclaims the future as a space of possibility. Each portrait invites viewers to consider themes of exploration, strength, and cultural presence beyond the boundaries that history has often imposed.
At its core, the work is about resilience.
It asks how imagination can become a tool for transformation and how visual storytelling can expand the ways we see ourselves and our communities.
Seeing Afronauts move into a public setting adds a new dimension to that conversation.
When Photography Meets Community
One of the most powerful aspects of public art is its relationship with audience.
In a gallery setting, viewers often arrive with intention. In public space, art meets people where they already are.
Someone commuting through the station may encounter an image unexpectedly. A student passing through may see themselves reflected in the work. A traveler may pause and wonder about the story behind the portrait.
That interaction is what makes public art so meaningful.
It becomes part of the cultural ecosystem of a city.
Creative Work With Cultural Impact
Projects like this reinforce something I’ve long believed about photography.
When organizations and brands partner with artists, they are not simply commissioning images. They are shaping how stories are seen and experienced by the public.
The environments where photography appears matter. The audiences who encounter it matter. The cultural impact of the work matters.
Whether I’m working with healthcare organizations, brands, or cultural institutions, my goal is always the same.
Create imagery that connects people, expands representation, and invites reflection.
Looking Ahead
I’m grateful to have Afronauts included in the Artbound program and excited to see how the work interacts with the daily movement of Atlanta.
More details about installation locations and timing will be shared soon.
If your organization is planning campaigns, public art initiatives, or community-facing storytelling projects this year, I would love to connect about how photography can support those efforts.