Zach Herndon is an Atlanta-based chalk artist and community organizer known for bold pop-art portraits, precise linework, and interactive 3D murals. Introduced to chalk art through his wife and collaborator, Jessi Queen, in 2011, he developed his practice through collaborative street paintings before creating his first solo festival piece in 2015.
His work draws on the graphic language of pop art, using strong colors, carefully defined shapes, and patterned detail to create images that connect with viewers as they take shape. He has participated in chalk festivals across the United States and in Europe.
In 2014, Zach co-founded the Georgia Chalk Artists Guild with Jessi Queen and Katie Bush. Through community events, demonstrations, and public artwork, he helps make chalk art an opportunity for people to meet, participate, and create.
His Approach
Zach chooses solid colors that pop and builds faces from clearly defined shapes and shadows, often finished with Ben-Day dots placed by hand. He likes to put the eyes down first: people connect through eye contact, so the eyes give passersby something to relate to from the start. Because the work happens in public, he plans each piece so it is satisfying to follow at every stage.
His 3D work applies the same precision to perspective, creating scenes that line up from a single viewing spot so visitors can step in and become part of the picture.
Milestones
- 2011 Introduced to chalk art by Jessi Queen at the SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival.
- 2012 Began chalking with Jessi at Bragg Jam in Macon, Georgia, which became a yearly tradition.
- 2014 Co-founded the Georgia Chalk Artists Guild with Jessi Queen and Katie Bush.
- 2015 Shared First Place and the People’s Choice Award with Jessi Queen at Arts Fest Gwinnett. Created his first solo festival piece, a Roy Lichtenstein still life, at the Sarasota International Chalk Festival. Started the Pop-Up Chalk Fest at Atlanta Streets Alive.
- 2016 Developed his own method for chalking Ben-Day dots at the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival. Chalked at street art festivals in Italy and Germany with Jessi.
- 2020 Partnered with the City of East Point on the Count the Point Census Chalk Art Festival.
- 2023 Drew a 10 × 10-foot pop-art portrait of Jessi, based on a selfie and influenced by Roy Lichtenstein, at the Lake Worth Beach Street Painting Festival. Presented a chalk demonstration with Jessi at MODA’s Midtown Blooms.
- 2024 Created a 3D view of Earth at Chalk Howard Street in Chicago’s Rogers Park.
Festival Appearances
Zach has chalked in at least 19 states and in Austria, Germany and Italy. Selected appearances:
Press
- Howard Street in Rogers Park turns into a chalk art canvas with 3D optical illusionsChicago Sun-Times, August 2024
- Life & Work with Zachary Herndon of East AtlantaVoyage ATL, interview
- Artists turned streets into their own canvas at the Lake Worth Beach Street Painting FestivalWLRN, February 2023
- Chalk art messages of encouragement flourish during pandemicThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 2020
- Artist profile: Zachary HerndonGeorgia Chalk Artists Guild
Resume
Alongside his art, Zach has a background in software quality assurance and technical support. Read Zach’s resume.
Let’s make something together
Commissions, festivals, community events and workshops all start with a conversation.