the answer is love

… 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

mural, colourful flowers on a black background

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

mural in an alley, cartoonish buffalo, standing on hind legs, cheering with front legs as upraised arms, bulging muscles, with the words buffalo strong written on arms

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

mural in an alley, covid theme, text says essential, images of medical people and others in covid masks

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