A massive new mural just dropped on the former CNN Center — and if you've been anywhere near the Georgia World Congress Center lately, you've probably already noticed it.
This large installation is the work of HENSE, the internationally recognized artist born Alex Brewer who got his start tagging walls in Atlanta's graffiti scene in the early 2000s. He still calls the city home, and this project marks his biggest local work in years. The mural covers a towering exterior wall as part of the building's transformation into The CTR — the new identity for what used to be CNN Center after the network relocated its Atlanta operations to Midtown.
This isn't just a one-off installation. The HENSE mural is the launch piece of a multi-artist public art program that's rolling out ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when Atlanta will host multiple matches and the world's eyes will be on downtown. The CTR is betting big on art as part of its rebrand, and they're tapping Atlanta street art legends to do it.
Why This Mural Matters for Downtown
The former CNN Center has been in flux since the network announced its departure in January 2023. For decades, it was a landmark — tourists filled the atrium, the food court buzzed, and the building symbolized Atlanta's media presence. When CNN left, it created a massive void in the downtown landscape.
The CTR is the answer to what comes next. The 1.2-million-square-foot property is being repositioned as a mixed-use destination with a revamped food hall, public spaces, and now, a serious commitment to public art. The HENSE mural is just the beginning. More artists are expected to contribute work throughout the building and surrounding plazas as The CTR gears up for its official public opening on June 12 — just days before World Cup matches kick off in Atlanta.
If you're wondering why the timing matters, it's because downtown is in the middle of a serious transformation moment. The CTR is positioning itself as the cultural and dining anchor that downtown has been missing since CNN scaled back. This mural is a signal: the building isn't just being repurposed, it's being reimagined with Atlanta's creative identity front and center.
Who Is HENSE?
Alex Brewer started as a graffiti artist in Atlanta before his abstract, color-saturated work took him to galleries and public installations around the world. His style — bold geometric shapes, layered patterns, compressed visual language — is immediately recognizable. He's done murals in Berlin, New York, and across the Southeast, but Atlanta is where his roots are.
The CTR mural explores repetition and variation across a massive architectural canvas. It's acrylic on concrete, and it's designed to be seen from blocks away. This is the kind of work that changes how you experience a building — it's not background, it's the landmark itself.
What Else Is Coming to The CTR
The public art program is part of a larger cultural push called CTR Culture, which will include branded mural opportunities, activations, and programming designed to integrate Atlanta's creative community directly into the building. The food hall is also getting a complete overhaul, with new vendors and a redesigned atrium meant to function as a public gathering space.
The timing aligns with other major downtown projects that are reshaping the area. The World Cup is accelerating timelines, but the transformation of The CTR has been in the works for years. The building is betting that art, food, and public space can bring a new kind of energy to a part of downtown that's been searching for its next identity.
This is exactly the kind of move downtown needs right now. HENSE is the right choice — he's Atlanta through and through, and his work has the kind of bold, unapologetic energy that matches what this building should be. The CTR isn't trying to be corporate or polished, and that's a good thing. Leaning into street art and local creative talent is the smartest play they could make. If they keep this momentum going and bring in more Atlanta artists, this could become the kind of public art destination that actually draws people downtown on purpose, not just because they're passing through. The World Cup spotlight is coming whether we're ready or not, and this mural makes it clear The CTR is showing up ready.