Talk about art in Buffalo, and the conversation quickly goes to the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, as well as its neighbor, Burchfield Penney Art Center. And that is deservedly so, since those two large Elmwood Avenue museums have earned all the attention they get.
But Buffalo’s art scene goes beyond the two glorious Elmwood Avenue institutions to smaller galleries that dot the local landscape like a brilliant abstract painting. These cultural hot spots are found on welcoming ground floors of commercial buildings, in storefronts, in former industrial places downtown, along avenues and within neighborhoods. Spaces such as Raft of Sanity, Buffalo Art Movement (BAM!) and Revolution Gallery hold a distinct place in their community by giving voice to local artists and hosting events that go beyond art with music and dance. Plus, they make supporting local artists easy by offering affordable works.
Gallery directors Elisabeth Samuels, left, and Emily Tucker put the focus on local artists at Raft of Sanity.
“We jokingly say most people in Western New York have two art experiences: They go to a museum like the AKG or Burchfield Penney and then they go to a festival like Allentown or Elmwood Festival of the Arts. So, in general, they are missing this fantastic art scene we have,” said Emily Tucker, who co-owns Raft of Sanity with Elisabeth Samuels. “So many amazing artists living in our own backyard, and we want people to know that.”
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Going to exhibits and openings of local artists also brings a connection with the community and the artist “the minute you have that experience where you buy a real piece of art or hear them talk,” Tucker said. “In Buffalo, you have that experience and feel connected to them.”
With that in mind, she suggests that instead of going to the mall and buying mass-produced art, to visit one of these galleries where you can buy original artwork at affordable prices while supporting local artists.
“We have art at every price point,” Tucker said. “We have art that starts at $40 and goes up to a couple thousand. There is place for everyone to collect regional artists, and that work becomes part of your home and your life.”
Major cultural attractions of Buffalo are well reviewed, visited and feted internationally – the smaller-in-scale local art galleries, like the artwork adorning their walls and pedestals inside, vary in ranges of style, size and focus. Some may show art by all Western New York artists, of a specific genre, or seasonal and themed group shows.
Local artists, such as Cassandra Kim, are featured at such neighborhood art spots as Revolution Gallery in North Buffalo where her exhibit “The Rise of the Rescuers” is displayed.
Galleries, by design, don’t charge admission. There may be a collection box for donations near the entrance, where information about works on view, future exhibitions, and other happenings at the gallery may be found. If there is a guest book, sign it and also sign up for the mailing list.
Exhibits usually hang for about one month after an opening reception is held for the artist or group of artists to greet the art-loving public. Do look out for the monthly First Fridays, when galleries have later hours and a progressive, rambling art-forward party.
Below are six local galleries for the feasting eye.
255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 200
BAM! is Buffalo Art Movement, a gallery in the Pierce Arrow building where luxury Pierce-Arrow Motor Cars were once designed and fabricated. The gallery was founded and funded by Dr. Francisco J. Hernandez-Ilizaliturri (aka Paco), a renowned collector of art and comic books: Paco reports that the name BAM! was inspired by his love of comics. Exhibits by local and national artists – both mid-career and emerging – in all media are beautifully installed in the galleries. It is open from noon to 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday; Friday night opening receptions are welcoming affairs.
JazzBuffalo hosts the series “Art Meets Jazz” in Beebe’s at The Gallery, a space adjacent to Hunt Gallery in downtown Buffalo.
Nestled into the northeast corner of the historic Brisbane Building, you’ll find Hunt Gallery through the entrance facing Lafayette Square, where you’ll enter a wondrous hub of artful activity. The gallery opened in 2022, with a focus on promoting the creative work of local artists.
Visitors are buzzed in by a gallery employee or volunteer. The space is airy, and interior walls hung with art are modular, so every exhibit feels and looks unique.
On its lower level are the current cohort of resident artists, with “Hunt Residencies” to promote their career development. The residents receive free studio space for a four-month stint and an exhibition at Hunt Gallery; residencies are in collaboration with the venerable Buffalo Society of Artists. Like other artist residency programs, it’s possible to visit artists in their studios when they are onsite. All art is for sale, and Hunt Gallery exhibits work by both resident and exhibiting artists.
Beebe’s at The Gallery is an adjacent event space that may be rented and includes private access to Hunt Gallery and the artists’ studios. JazzBuffalo has hosted “Jazz Meets Art” events that showcase live music, and guests also have access to gallery exhibits. Beebe’s also has art hanging on the walls, and between Hunt Gallery and Beebe’s is a small container of unframed artwork for sale. Gallery hours are generally from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
The Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art (BICA)
BICA is located on hallowed local art ground, the Essex Street art compound founded by late sculptor Larry Griffis, who also founded Griffis Sculpture Park in East Otto. This is where Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center was also borne, and where Big Orbit Gallery and CEPA Gallery once had exhibition space.
Founded in 2018 by local artist Nando Alvarez-Perez and curator Emily Ebba Reynolds, BICA has a core mission to show the work of local and international artists who may be underrepresented in the art world. It is one larger gallery space with a micro gallery, a friendly place to feast eyes on paintings, photographs and sculpture.
In addition to exhibitions with month-long runs, BICA publishes the free art magazine Cornelia (available near the entryway, along with their guestbook). The gallery also runs BICA School, runs free art classes for the community and administers funding for artists via its Generator Fund. Visit BICA from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, plus noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays or by appointment. If the door is open, enjoy the back patio with seating to contemplate the art just viewed nearby.
K Art Gallery celebrates the work of regional and national Native American and Indigenous artists.
K Art was founded in 2020 by David Kimelberg, who restored this late-Victorian building. He is a member of the Seneca Nation (Bear clan), a lawyer, venture capitalist and art promoter, and has an office located in the building.
K Art is a welcoming space that shows contemporary art made by local and international indigenous artists. It has the distinction of being one of only a handful of galleries with this mission in the country, and K Art feels like visiting a posh, duplex apartment that has a great art collection. Look for the patio for an extra Allentown experience.
The lounge by the large front windows has a coffee table, replete with coffee table art books, and beyond is the lower gallery. A mod stairway leads to the upper, more intimate gallery spaces. Exhibits hang for several months (usually four), and openings are known for a swanky, cocktail party vibe. Call ahead to confirm that K Art is not between shows when installation by Kimelberg and staff is happening as they ready for their next exhibit.
K Art shows paintings, sculpture and traditional Native craft art with contemporary flourishes, in solo and group exhibitions. The space also headquarters K Haus, the event space arm of the operation, for public or private events. Visit K Art from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday to Saturday.
Collaborative work by Karle Norman and Rachel Shelton is on display at Raft of Sanity.
This Niagara Street-based gallery is often just referred to as “The Raft” by its founders, fans and artists. It shows work by local and national artists in exhibits that hang for about a month.
Open hours are noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays and are a great opportunity to wander through rooms of modern art of various media. Opening receptions here are vibrating nights of visiting with fellow art lovers.
Located in a former West Side industrial space, The Raft was started by art partners Emily Tucker and Elisabeth Samuels – aka Resource:Art — who also are the force behind Barcalo Contemporary Gallery in the Old First Ward on Louisiana Street. They also curate exhibitions for Gallery Josephine inside Shea’s Seneca in South Buffalo.
Owners Maria Pabico and Craig LaRotonda have created a welcoming place for artists and the community at their Revolution Gallery.
A casual and welcoming arts space, Revolution Gallery is a double-storefront gallery with a cozy seating area and wine and beer bar dubbed The Lounge at Revolution Gallery. The gallery specializes in showing and selling art by international and local artists that is pop-surrealistic, figurative and ofttimes macabre. Some recent exhibitions’ themes include a tattoo artist group show, Tarot Deck cards made by various artists and fantastical paintings.
Revolution was founded by husband and wife artists Craig LaRotonda and Maria Pabico LaRotonda in 2016 and has been a busy hub of creative activity since. Hot tip: If the tiki patio lights are blazing, Revolution is hopping. In addition to opening receptions held for exhibiting artists, the space hosts dance parties, trivia nights (“Where Is My Mind”), guest bartender nights who bring along their playlists, and live music. The Rotondas also host semi-frequent wine tastings and the gallery and lounge are also a rental space. Do remember their shop area for art prints, merch and other fine art gifts. The gallery is open from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and later for frequent special events.
