Kevin Bate, a Chattanooga artist and MakeWork grantee known for his large scale portrait murals found throughout the city, will be starting his newest work Wednesday at 508 East Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd on the “Whole Note” building.
The portrait of Blues Legend Robert Johnson will be approximately 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Mr. Bate will be completing the mural utilizing equipment purchased with the MakeWork grant he received last year.
Mr. Bate, whose work has grown in popularity in the past two years, has painted murals of Samuel L.
Jackson on Main Street, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on MLK Blvd., Bessie Smith at Track 29 and six technology innovators including Steve Jobs on the North Shore.
He moved to Chattanooga in 1994 and lives in Highland Park with his wife and young son.