Local Artist Lends Talents to Cornelius Elementary

Justin Christenbery and his children and the new mural at Cornelius Elementary School | contributed photo

Cornelius artist Justin Christenbery recently completed a mural in the Cornelius Elementary School gymnasium designed to evoke the school’s cougar mascot and its “Big Three” motto: Be responsible. Be respectful. Be an active learner.

Christenbery, who lives in downtown Cornelius and has two children who attend the school, said the mural’s inspiration dates back five years, when his oldest son began kindergarten there.

He initially planned to donate his time and talent to a project at the planned new school, which was approved in a 2023 school bond referendum. But with no formal timeline for the project’s start, he worked with the school and its PTO to move the mural forward.

The mural took him four days to complete and appears on the school’s interior gymnasium wall.

“Completing the mural became an experience of deep gratitude for a school and community that value the arts and have embraced this local artist,” Christenbery said. “That means far more to me than having my work in a prestigious gallery, because this painting will truly live in a way that living-room art never can.”

Christenbery is an artist and educator with more than 20 years of experience exploring realistic and contemporary approaches to painting. He said his work combines technical precision with explorations of creativity, perception and humanity’s relationship with the world. His paintings have been featured in exhibitions, live painting events and publications, sold internationally and commissioned for private and public spaces.

“I hope the students of CES encounter this cougar as they would a surprise encounter in nature: a moment of unexpected connection with another living presence that embodies the CES Big Three in its own way,” Christenbery said. “The cougar gazes back calmly and with focused intent, carrying what I see as the relational imperative of all life: I am, and I see you. We are connected.”