Call for Artists: The Essex Street Arts Center

Arts Services Inc. of Western New York (ASI), on behalf of Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera’s Office and in partnership with the Ashford Hollow Foundation, invites experienced mural artists to apply for a large-scale public art opportunity at The Essex Arts Center on Buffalo’s West Side.

The selected artist or artist team will create an outdoor mural spanning five metal roll-up garage doors on the building’s historic courtyard façade. The project seeks a cohesive, visually engaging design that responds to the theme Transformation in Motion, exploring ideas of change, resilience, movement, and creative momentum. The mural should honor the site’s rich artistic legacy while reflecting Buffalo’s evolving cultural identity.

This opportunity prioritizes artists living in Western New York’s five counties (Erie, Niagara, Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua) and is open to individual artists or collaborative teams with mural experience.

Project at a Glance

Location: The Essex Arts Center, 30 Essex Street, Buffalo, NY
Surface: Five adjacent metal roll-up garage doors with concrete dividers
Dimensions: Approximately 9 feet high x 96 feet wide (total span)
Budget: $15,000 (inclusive of artist fees, materials, and installation costs)
Expected lifespan: 3–5 years
Read the complete Call for Artists here

Key Dates

Call Opens: Monday, January 5, 2026
Deadline to Submit: Friday, February 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Panel Review & Selection Meetings: March 2026
Public Announcement of Selection: April 2026
Project Implementation & Installation: Spring / Early Summer 2026
Project Completion: Summer 2026

Submission Details

Artists must apply through an online submission form, which includes an option to upload a single PDF proposal outlining the concept, budget, and past work.