Banks Compton is a nationally recognized muralist and fine artist whose work weaves together storytelling, community, and culture. His artistic journey began in high school, where he sold pet portraits to fund his first car. Summers spent working at Kern Studios in New Orleans, building Mardi Gras floats, further fueled his passion for large-scale creations. At just 17, Banks’s talent and dedication earned him early acceptance to the Rhode Island School of Design, where he graduated with honors in Fine Art Painting in 2021.

While attending RISD, Banks balanced his education with professional opportunities, including work for a luxury event planning company in New York City. There, he designed décor for prestigious venues such as Hearst Castle in California, the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center, and private residences in the Hamptons. In 2020, his studies took him to Rome, Italy, as part of the European Honors Program, which was cut short due to the pandemic. This disruption led Banks to Phoenix, AZ, where he apprenticed under muralist Taylor Victoria Nelson before launching his independent mural career.

Since then, Banks has become a full-time muralist, transforming spaces across the country, including Alabama, Colorado, Rhode Island, Florida, and Arizona. His murals, celebrated for their vibrant narratives and community impact, have earned him accolades such as the People’s Choice and Artists’ Choice awards at the 2023 Fraser Mountain Mural Fest. Recent highlights include a grant-funded mural in Eutaw, AL, and three murals funded by the ALProHealth Grant Project in Linden, AL.

Banks’s artistic achievements extend beyond murals. He has exhibited in solo and group shows across the U.S., with notable exhibitions such as Southern Spirits at the Eastern Shore Art Center and FOCAL POINTS: Minimal VS Maximalin Phoenix, AZ. His self-published book, Banks Compton: Alabama Muralist, offers a deeper look into his creative journey, while his work is highlighted in publications like AL.com and Inweekly.

Dedicated to fostering creativity in others, Banks has led summer art programs for organizations like Strickland Youth Center in Mobile, AL, and University Charter School in Livingston, AL. His projects continue to inspire, blending artistic excellence with a commitment to enriching communities through public art.

From his early days crafting pet portraits to his recent large-scale public art projects, Banks Compton’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of art. Whether on the walls of a bustling city or in the heart of a small town, Banks’s work leaves an indelible mark, connecting people and places through his bold and vibrant vision.

Banks Compton transforms public spaces into vibrant visual stories, characterized by bold, whimsical designs interwoven with meaningful themes rooted in local narratives and symbols.

In addition to his murals, Compton creates large fine artworks with oil paint and oil pastels. These pieces delve into landscapes and intimate portraits of figures from his personal life, capturing moments of connection, allegory, play, and raw emotion. Compton’s paintings and murals envelop viewers in a world of color and movement. Through scale, shape, and accessibility, each piece is designed to transport audiences and inspire wonder. Driven by a belief in the transformative power of art, He has also developed a portable mural panel series that merges fine art with the accessibility of murals, allowing his work to inhabit exterior environments and bridging the gap between traditional painting and public art.

Growing up in rural Alabama with limited exposure to fine art, Compton is deeply committed to making art accessible to all. He actively engages communities through impactful large-scale works, workshops, artist talks, and collaborative projects. His goal is to capture narratives from daily life and preserve the stories of the mundane and extraordinary. More than just visually striking, his art serves as a catalyst for connection, opening portals to new worlds and celebrating inclusivity.

Rhode Island School of Design – Providence, RI
BA in Fine Art Painting, Conferred with Honors
2017–2021

The New School – New York, NY
Pre-College Program in Painting
2016

2024

• Solo Exhibition, Southern Spirits, Eastern Shore Art Center, Fairhope, AL

2023

• Solo Exhibition, Banks Compton Solo Show, The Studio by Sarah Coleman Photography, Pensacola, FL

• Group Exhibition, Robin Nance Metz Art Competition, Shelby County Art Center, Columbiana, AL

2022

• Solo Exhibition, Artist Showcase: Solo Show, Renaissance Square, Phoenix, AZ

• Group Exhibition, FOCAL POINTS: Minimal VS Maximal, FOUND:RE Contemporary, Phoenix, AZ

2021

• Group Exhibition, Thesis Show, Gelman Gallery, Providence, RI

2020

• Group Exhibition, Tiny Biennial, Temple University, Rome, Italy

2019

• Group Exhibition, Painting Departmental Show, Gelman Gallery, Providence, RI

• Group Exhibition, Sophomore Show, Memorial Hall, Providence, RI

2018

• Group Exhibition, Painting a Day, Memorial Hall, Providence, RI

2016

• Solo Exhibition, Banks Compton, Bryan W. Whitfield Gallery, Demopolis, AL

2015

• Group Exhibition, Delta Illuminated, The Artists’ Place, Mobile, AL

2023

• Fraser Mountain Mural Fest, Fraser, CO

• Cubed – Pensacola Museum of Art, Pensacola, FL

• Pensacola Mural Fest, Pensacola, FL

2024

• Tombigbee Resource, Conservation, and Development Grant: Funded mural in Eutaw, AL

2023

• Robin Nance Metz Art Competition: Best in Painting, Shelby County Arts Council, Columbiana, AL

• Fraser Mountain Mural Fest: People’s Choice 1st Place, Fraser, CO

• Fraser Mountain Mural Fest: Artists’ Choice, Fraser, CO

• Pensacola Mural Fest: People’s Choice 1st Place, Pensacola, FL

2022

• ALProHealth Grant Project: Funded three murals in Linden, AL

2020

• European Honors Program Recipient: Rome, Italy

2023

• Tamika Alexander, “Downtown Northport Apartment Gets a New Look,” WVUA

• Tamika Alexander, “Credit Union in Alberta Gets a Splash of History on its Façade,” WVUA

• Savannah Evanoff, “Realistically Whimsical,” Inweekly

• Kelly Sierra, “Five Artists Unveil New Murals Downtown for 2023 Pensacola Mural Fest,” WEAR

• Bill Snyder, “Mural Artist Paints up Pascagoula,” WLOX

2022

• Michelle Matthews, “This Alabama Mural Painter Brings Small Towns Together,” AL.com

2024

• Banks Compton, Banks Compton: Alabama Muralist, View Publication.

2023

• Tomorrow’s Talent III, designed and edited by Jeff Hamada, Booooooom; printed in Montreal, CA by BookArt.

2022–Present

• Freelance Mural Artist, Orange 209 LLC.
  Completed projects in AL, LA, AZ, CO, FL, MO, MS, and RI.

2024

• Program Instructor, Strickland Youth Center, Mobile, AL

2023

• Mural Painting Summer Program Leader, Rotary Youth Club, Fairhope, AL

• Fine Art and Mural Painting Summer Program Leader, University Charter School, Livingston, AL

2022

• Fine Art and Mural Painting Summer Program Leader, University Charter School, Livingston, AL

2019–2021

• Custom Décor Artist, David Monn LLC., New York, NY

2017–2018

• Papier Mâché Artist, Kern Studios, New Orleans, LA

• SWDA (Solid Waste Disposal Authority) – Baldwin County, AL

• Strickland Youth Center – Mobile, AL

• Crayola Experience – Chandler, AZ

• Walmart – Various locations in Alabama and Louisiana

• Starbucks – Huntsville, AL

• Beyond Gravity – Decatur, AL

• Black Rifle Coffee Company – Mesa, AZ

• Alabama ONE Credit Union – Alberta, AL

• Rotary Youth Club – Fairhope, AL

• University Charter School – Livingston, AL

• Fraser Mountain Mural Fest – Fraser, CO

• Pensacola Mural Fest – Pensacola, FL