SNELLVILLE – The walls of the City Hall Art Gallery will feature the works of Marcella Hayes Muhammad and Leroy Banks beginning Jan. 8.

Muhammad focuses on African-American themes through the styles of abstract and realism.

“Formal art training and many years of practice have allowed me to use more than one form of style to express myself,” she said. “As a retired teacher, I am more of a narrative painter using my skills with realism to capture history and culture from the African-American perspective. I strive to create emotion and thought from my art. I use my signature style that I developed and have named Plastic Space abstract which explores the motion of light around objects, to tell stories of my culture and history. 

“I consider this style of work as a form of visual Jazz. The uniting elements of my work is in the use of a warm pallet, vibrant colors with two, three or even as many as four colors in action at the same time. I use a multi-dominant rhythmic style with the movement of different designs and harmonizing colors.” 

This is the first time Banks’ art will be exhibited. 

The gallery, located in the Community Room of City Hall, 2342 Oak Road, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Muhammad and Banks’ art will be on display until Feb. 26. There will be a reception for this exhibit from 2 to 6 p.m. Jan. 17.