Writing on the Rails: Atlanta's Style Writing Story

Atlanta’s graffiti culture, widely referred to as style writing, has long been a powerful artistic movement tied to the city’s history, hip-hop roots, and evolving urban landscape. From the train yards of the 1980s to the walls of the Beltline today, Atlanta’s graffiti scene has shaped—and been shaped by—the city itself.

Atlanta’s identity as a transportation hub has always played a role in its graffiti culture. In the 19th century, the city was named Terminus because of its role as the endpoint of major railroads. Over a century later, these same rail lines became canvases for graffiti artists. In the early 1980s, as hip-hop culture grew, Atlanta’s graffiti scene emerged alongside it. Crews like The United Kings, founded by Marcus Wallace and his cousins in 1981, were among the pioneers, bringing a raw and rebellious spirit to the city’s walls and train cars. 

Graffiti historian and artist Antar Fierce, who began as a graffiti writer before becoming a key documentarian of the culture, emphasizes the deep connection between graffiti and Atlanta’s rail system. “Graffiti and trains are inseparable,” Antar notes. “Most places you go in the world, if you go near the train tracks, there’s going to be graffiti.” He describes how Atlanta’s early writers saw trains as moving canvases that carried their work beyond city limits.  

As Atlanta changed, so did the spaces for graffiti. Many of the old train yards disappeared due to development, but new spaces emerged. The Krog Street Tunnel, a landmark since the 1990s, became a rotating canvas where graffiti continuously evolves. Another major site, the So So Def Walls, located beneath the legendary So So Def billboard, became a sacred space for graffiti writers, ensuring that Atlanta’s style writing culture wasn’t erased. Both sites can now be found along the Atlanta Beltline, a 22-mile loop built on abandoned railroad tracks from Atlanta's industrial past – bringing style writing back full circle to its roots. 

Antar credits the team at the Beltline for working to bridge the gap between writers and the project. “At first, a lot of writers saw the Beltline as a loss,” Antar explains. “We were losing all these spots. But they were forward-thinking enough to engage with us and say, ‘Why don’t we work together?’” That collaboration helped ensure that graffiti—once criminalized– found a legitimate space in the city’s public art landscape. 

Graffiti is often an ephemeral art form; walls get repainted, buildings get demolished, and new works constantly replace the old. But the Beltline’s commitment to public art and community engagement helps provide longevity to a culture that has often been misunderstood or marginalized. The increased exposure—where joggers, cyclists, and families can interact with graffiti daily—has helped shift perceptions, positioning style writing as a respected and celebrated art form rather than just an underground movement. 

As Atlanta grows and changes, the challenge remains: How do we honor and preserve the history of style writing while allowing it to evolve? Artists like Antar play a crucial role in ensuring that these stories aren’t lost. Through events like the ATL StyleWriters Jam, a three-day exhibition that brought together veteran and emerging artists to showcase their talents along the corridor, the Beltline is working to ensure that Atlanta’s graffiti legacy continues to be written.  

For those looking to experience Atlanta’s graffiti culture firsthand, visiting spaces along the Beltline like Krog Street Tunnel and the So So Def Walls offers a glimpse into the past and present of style writing. These sites, along with the pieces along the corridor, showcase the work of generations of artists who have shaped the city’s visual identity. Whether you’re an admirer of the art form or simply curious, exploring these spaces is a way to engage with a culture that has long been a part of Atlanta’s story.