Courtney Brooks has achieved a lifelong dream with the opening of Cbrooks Art Gallery at The Upton, a vibrant space showcasing 22 artists in her inaugural exhibition “kNOw Regrets.”
The gallery, which opened on Thursday, June 12, marked the debut of Brooks’ year-long artist residency at the new development. Brooks, who moved into The Upton in April as part of the residency program, also painted a vibrant pool mural titled “Echoes of Joy.”
“I’ve always wanted to have a gallery,” Brooks said during a recent interview. “I knew that was going to be a long-term goal of mine. I didn’t know when it was going to happen. It just happened to come at this point in time.”
Brooks has deep roots in Atlanta’s art scene. She served as the inaugural curator in residence for Art on the Beltline from 2019-2020 and completed an artist residency at The Maverick in 2022-2023, where she created a 65-foot mural and her first sculpture. Her current residency represents what she calls a “full circle moment” , as she can see her previous Beltline work from The Upton’s rooftop.
Brooks’s path to art began early with a third-grade watercolor painting of a Victorian house that won her first art award. Her mother’s coworker wanted to buy the piece, but her mother declined, telling young Courtney she would be “a famous artist one day.”
After starting college at Texas Southern University, Brooks transferred to community college to pursue art classes, eventually creating a watercolor painting based on her life dreams, which included having her own gallery.
“I had this plan, but God has a different plan for us,” Brooks said.
The “kNOw Regrets” inaugural exhibition features a mix of established and emerging artists, including work by Shanequa Gaye, whom Brooks calls “one of the first Black women artists I was able to physically touch and talk to.” The show also debuts photography by Dr. Arshley Emile of Timberhouse Films.
Brooks personally invited each artist, seeking to create dialogue between different artistic styles and career stages. The exhibition title reflects her philosophy about life choices and learning from experiences.
“Although we know we have regrets sometimes, ultimately there’s no regrets, because we wouldn’t be where we’re at,” she explained.
The gallery space presented unique challenges. Brooks transformed gray walls into white gallery walls while working with existing furniture and decor. She credits the late Logan Locke , a fixture in Fulton County arts who passed away in May, with helping plan the installation before his passing.
“I’m just grateful that he blessed the space , I had his blessing, like I had his expertise here,” Brooks said.
The Upton Apartments houses five artists in residence, including a chef and 4 other artists working on various murals and installations throughout the property. Brooks’ pool mural took three weeks to complete, with weather and supply challenges requiring her to source matching spray paint colors from fellow artists.
Moving to Atlanta from Denver, where she “didn’t grow up with any Black Artists ,” proved transformative for Brooks.
“Coming to Atlanta was an eye-opening experience, very inspirational, very entrepreneurial,” she said. “Coming to Atlanta is like magic. It just gives you courage to continue on that path.”
The gallery represents more than personal achievement for Brooks, who also works as a teacher. She sees it as service to the art community, exposing both art lovers and newcomers to creative work.
“I wanted to show appreciation for art and share that with people who love art already, and then people who may not know, and I can expose them to it,” she said.
Brooks’ residency runs for one year, though she hopes to extend her stay
“This is really my gallery,” Brooks said, still marveling at seeing her name on the wall. “Like my name is on the wall.”
Cbrooks Art Gallery at The Upton is located at 430 Englewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315.
