seen in Harlem

Posted on September 7, 2025 by Mary C

as the Harlem in New York City.

below: Be Kind; Be Well; Be Safe; Be Love

below: There is a mural on the side of the Amsterdam News building on Frederick Douglas Blvd. The full mural shows two women and a child under a baobab tree. “A Family’s Tree” by Alexandre Keto.

Mural by Alexandre Keto on the side of the Amsterdam News building in Harlem, 2 black women and a child under a baobab tree

below: By any means necessary

below: The top part of this painting has been covered by the ads. The words “Show Love to Artist”, as well as the gold crown that the man is wearing, have been obscured. That side of the wall was painted by Amir Diop.

below: Too many humans and not enuf souls. The blue is a remnant from a previous paste-up while the bleeding eyes are from yet another layer.

below: A portrait and white cross, by Brendan T. McNally

below: Handcuffs, a gun, and a bottle of liquor – but turn your back on all that and head towards reading and education.

below: Under the railway tracks.

emural under the railway tracks by an old station entrance

mural in grey tones, a man, and lots of text — Life’s path is not always so clear. Many of us look, but still don’t see. We hear but still don’t listen. This doesn’t mean that slavery doe not exist. Jesus struggles through great obstacles so that we could learn how to be free; how to find our way through darkness. Many of us will continue down a path of destruction like chained slaves toward their grave. Be free my friends, be free.

below: We fit you to a T featuring Mr. T. from the 1980s TV show, “The A-Team”. His given name was Laurence Tureaud.

below: We are New Yorkers.

mural, baseball player, words that say we are new yorkers

below: That’s a lot of words! Zeitgeist is defined as “the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time” Perhaps this poster captures the zeitgeist of New York City in the 2020s.

a poster, 2 pages of plain white paper with lots of words written in black marker about Jesus and the blue pill

below: There are two large murals along the walls at Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Plaza.

two murals at Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Plaza.

below: “How Do I See Myself” by CAW Kids

mural, how i see myself, by caw kids, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Plaza., harlem, new york city

below: Womens Health Community Mural

womens health community mural in Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Plaza., harlem,

below: Good night! Sleep tight!

Photos taken July 2024

another Hertel Alley building

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Mary C

with walls covered with street art murals

below: Bugs and balls – Ladybugs and spiders, billiard balls and eye balls, all on a bright green background, mural by Markenzy Cesar

below: A sweet mural with donuts and cupcakes, by Sakygrinu, aka Teouria Morris

below: The next three go together, a long mural by Jordan Weaver (aka Coconut Curry) with red dots, faces, a dragon, and many pink flowers

part of a large mural by coconut curry, pink flowers on grey background

below: Jumping for joy and leaping towards the sun on a bright blue sky day, in a mural by Courtney Haeick

below: These walls are bananas!

below: Keshanta Cleveland painted these colourful fish with the wonderful fins and tails.

mural in an alley, on brick building, two fish with fluffy long flowing fins and tail, a bit like angel fish, one is peach coloured and the othr is pink and maroon

Photos taken April 2025

Link to prior Hertel Alley post – the answer is love

For more information on all things Hertel Walls, check out their website!

famous people on Hertel

Posted on May 25, 2025 by Mary C

This is the second post about the murals found in the Hertel Ave area of Buffalo NY; it is a follow up to the previous post, “the answer is love“.

There are two large murals on Hertel Ave that feature well known people. The first is the Buffalo NY based rock band Goo Goo Dolls and the other shows author Mark Twain in conversation with John T. Lewis.

The Goo Goo Dolls were painted by Philip Burke whose illustrations have appeared in many magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Rolling Stone. John Rzeznik the band’s is the lead vocalist and guitar player while Robby Takac is the bassist as well as another vocalist (there have been other rotating members as well). Goo Goo Dolls appeared on the rock scene in the mid 1980s.

goo goo dolls, the rock band, mural by Philip Burke on Hertel Ave in Buffalo, on side of 2 storey brick building, large faces

Mark Twain (aka Samuel Clemens) and John T. Lewis were painted by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra in his now well-known coloured shapes such as stripes or diamonds. Both Twain and Lewis were born in 1835, Lewis as a free Black in Maryland, Twain in Missouri. Lewis eventually settled in Elmira NY which is where Twain’s wife was from and where the lives of the two men first crossed.

mural by Kobra, Mark Twain and John T. Lewis

Photos taken April 2025

I’ve just learned that I missed murals of Jerry Garcia and of the ‘Rat Pack’ (with Frank Sinatra). If you are in the area, don’t forget to keep an eye open for them!

the answer is love

Posted on May 24, 2025 by Mary C

… and that answer is found in an alley behind Hertel Avenue in Buffalo NY

below: An intriguing orange and black image of a lion’s face by Jay Hawkins (aka Revolutionary Strokes)

large orange and black lion face, in a mural by Jay Hawkins

below: Vibrant flowers by Chuck Tingley

below: Hertel Alley Gallery – the “gallery” encompasses three blocks of Hertel Alley (runs parallel to Hertel Ave between Traymore and Colvin). It is the scene of the Hertel Alley Street Art Festival, first started in 2019. At present there are more than 20 murals. I haven’t presented all of them here, instead I have featured the ones on this building. The others will follow in subsequent postings.

building in an alley with street art murals on it, with sign that says Hertel Alley Gallery

below: Buffalo Strong by Nick Bonvissuto

below: Another Chuck Tingley painting, this time it’s a Covid theme… a thanks to those who worked through the pandemic.

murals on the side of a black building in an alley in buffalo new yor, alley is behind hertel avenue, one of the mural is a large image of a lion's head in orange and black

below: We’re Talking Proud, by The Left-Handed bandit

we're talking proud mural in an alley buffalo, balloons on strings being pulled, by left handed bandit

below: Cheerful mural by Flour Pail Kids

mural by flour pail kids in an alley in buffalo new york, yellow background, a young person is using a camera to take pictures of brightly coloured shapes and flowers, stylized

Photos taken April 2025

Cobblestone Commons

Posted on May 10, 2025 by Mary C

Along a stretch of wall in the Cobblestone District, next to the Buffalo River, in Buffalo NY, there is a series of large paintings …

below: by Detour303 aka Thomas Evans

large painting outdoors, part of Albright Knox's project Cobblestone Commons

below: Cyrielle Tremblay

large painting outdoors, part of Albright Knox's project Cobblestone Commons

below: Jason Brammer, a framed view of the ocean

large painting outdoors, part of Albright Knox's project Cobblestone Commons

below: Ellen Rutt, a collage of shapes, colours, and textures

large painting outdoors, part of Albright Knox's project Cobblestone Commons

These images are presented by Albright-Knox Gallery and they date from Covid times, 2020-21. From the words on the wall: “The commons are what belong to all of us. In the nineteenth century, this area, so close to the Erie and Hamburg Canals and the Buffalo River and Harbor, was the site of a jostling mix of brick layers and dock workers, deckhands and lock tenders, machinists and millwrights. Producers of all kinds walked down cobble streets alive with the energy and pleasure of other people’s company. The commons are the exciting site of diverse perspectives and unexpected communions, shared together.

copy of the words on the wall for the Albright Knox Gallery series Cobblestone Commons, a grouping of 12 large outdoor artworks

below: A patchwork couple standing together, by Lauren Mckenzie-Pearce aka Lady Noel

a coupe with white hair, dressed in patchwork clothes, white woman, black man, man has a beard and mustache.

below: Obsidian Bellis, human? floral?

large painting outdoors, part of Albright Knox's project Cobblestone Commons

below: Karle Norman

large painting outdoors, part of Albright Knox's project Cobblestone Commons, by Karle Norman,

below: by Monet Alyssa Kifner

large painting outdoors, part of Albright Knox's project Cobblestone Commons

below: A jumble of houses and other buildings, by Miriam Singer

large painting outdoors, part of Albright Knox's project Cobblestone Commons

below: “Be happy” by James Moffitt

large painting outdoors, part of Albright Knox's project Cobblestone Commons

below: Colourful cyclists by Morgan Blair

large painting outdoors, part of Albright Knox's project Cobblestone Commons

below: Rough and tumbling pastel people by Bradd Young

large painting outdoors, part of Albright Knox's project Cobblestone Commons, in pastel colours,

The Albright Knox Gallery sponsored another set of artworks during Covid that still hand the wall in a downtown Buffalo lane. You can see them at “Locked Down but Still at Work”

Photos taken April 2025

Locked Down but Still at Work

Posted on May 2, 2025 by Mary C

Sixteen paintings lined up on a wall in a downtown Buffalo alley…. a series presented by the Albright Knox Gallery. It is titled “Works, from Home” and it represents the thoughts and feelings of sixteen artists on their experiences with lockdowns during the Covid pandemic of 2020. Presented here in no particular order (with the artist’s name underneath) –

a row of paintings, part of a series called Works from Home, Covid themed images by local artists, presented by Albright Knox gallery

Ashley Johnson

Chris Piontkowski

Adam Weekley

Obsidian Bellis

Rachel Shelton

Jon Mirro

Julia Bottoms

part of a series called Works from Home, Covid themed images by local artists, presented by Albright Knox gallery, painting by J.P. Hawkins Sr

left: Karle Norman
right: Jay P. Hawkins Sr.

Tricia Butski

M.J. Myers

Jason Seeley

part of a series called Works from Home, Covid themed images by local artists, presented by Albright Knox gallery

Jennifer Ryan

Fotini Galanes

Photos taken April 2025

weathered & faded

Posted on April 18, 2025 by Mary C

Older downtown Buffalo murals

Main Street in Buffalo in Theatre District, two older brick buildings with faded murals on them

below: It’s hard to read now, but the word is “Entertainment” that runs across the top of the mural.

below: Older Buffaloes in Buffalo, titled: “Buffalo Roam”

below: Semi-circular, “Shooting Stars”

two trucks parked in front of an older mural with semi circle, shooting stars, musical notes

close up of shooting stars in mural, peeling paint in places, revealing red brick beneath the paint

below: It’s not a street art mural but it’s located on the same building as “Entertainment” and across the parking lot from “Buffalo Roam”. Buffalo is full of old ghost signs like this. Albert’s Interior Decorators and Willett & Draper Furriers are both long gone. “Storage vaults on premises” – a throwback to when fur coats were popular. Fox & Staniland Opticians apparently still exist, but at a different address.

old advertising sign on the side of a brick building, Main street, Buffalo

Photos taken April 2025

Joe’s Deli

Posted on April 18, 2025 by Mary C

Joe’s Deli is on the corner of Hertel and Colvin in Buffalo (north of downtown). Two sides of the building are covered with large colourful murals.

below: On the Colvin Street side the mural consists of a lot of stylized flowers mostly in blues and purples.

mural by Bonnie Reiss, stylized floral motifs in blues and purples on a bright turquoise background, on the side of Joe's Deli in Buffalo

part of mural by Bonnie Reiss, stylized floral motifs in blues and purples on a bright turquoise background

below: The other side of the building has a second mural. It too has a turquoise background and some of the same floral motifs as the first mural. Both murals were painted by Bunnie Reiss.

large mural on the side of Joe's deli, a brown buffalo decorated with lots of stylized flowers and floral motifs, painted by Bunnie Reiss

the head of a buffalo in a large mural on the side of Joe's deli, a brown buffalo decorated with lots of stylized flowers and floral motifs, painted by Bunnie Reiss

part of a mural, large mural on the side of Joe's deli, a brown buffalo decorated with lots of stylized flowers and floral motifs, painted by Bunnie Reiss

below: The old blue sign on the building says Mastmans Kosher Restaurant. Mastmans deli and restaurant closed in 2005 after 60 years in the business.

Photos taken April 2025

downtown Syracuse

Posted on November 4, 2024 by Mary C

below: Put the “U” back in Syracuse, by Ally Walker

mural in syracuse new york, text with word syracuse with the u slightly askew, put the u back in syracuse

below: sAlt City by Brett Snyder and Irene Cheng, 2012. Mosaic of squares and each square is a QR code that links to as arts organization in the city.

below: “Keep it Street”

small street art piece high up on a building, keep it street

below: Your name like ice into my heart

below: A large mural by Colello Creations, aka Jacqueline Colello

part of a colello creations mural in syracuse

below: Another large mural, this one is on the side of a NatWest bank building and features images of Syracuse landmarks from a time when the Erie Canal played a large role in the city. It was painted by Corky Goss and Chip Miller in 2010.

horse drawn carriage passing in front of the erie canal where a man is tying up a boat, two people in the carriage,

Photos taken August 2024

East Harlem mosaics

Posted on September 3, 2024 by Mary C

I saw mosaics in two places, both close to the same corner – Lexington and East 104th.

The first set can be seen under the windows of what is now Exotic Fragrances Inc. – radiating Be Barrio Love and yo chicken.

mosaic images under a window of a store, be barrio love and a chicken, with word yo

part of a mosaic picture under a window of a store, little medallions with images in them, a woman, a man, a drum, a cactus, a ladder, a palm tree, a frog, a mandolin or guitar, and a water jug.

below: “This our home land here now” with a cheerful and accepting rainbow “everyone welcome”.

below: Shelves of fancy decorated perfume bottles looking lovely in the window, an interesting accompaniment to the “I got you” mosaic below it.

Around the corner, a whole mural made of little tiles. A picture of an elephant, a snail, and a lot of white doves circling the Earth. A row of brightly coloured tenement buildings anchors the picture. It was commissioned by Hope Community Inc. and was constructed by artist Manny Vega., The mural is titled ‘Al Ritmo de La Paz’ (To the Rhythm of Peace) and it is on East 104th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue,

5 four story apartment buildings in bright colours with different coloured windows

Photos taken July 2024

Eyes on the Streets

and feets on the ground. Graffiti, street art and murals seen while wandering the streets and alleys of our colourful world.

Category Archives: New York

seen in Harlem

another Hertel Alley building

famous people on Hertel

the answer is love

Cobblestone Commons

Locked Down but Still at Work

weathered & faded

Joe’s Deli

downtown Syracuse

East Harlem mosaics