Buffalo and the surrounding areas are home to a thriving art scene and many excellent museums and galleries. Whether your preference runs to something exciting and modern or the works of the masters, you’ll find a venue featuring something you love. Exhibitions abound all year long and include live performances, massive public art pieces, and galleries to browse for hours. In this community, new, up-and-coming artists present their work alongside famous names. Here are just a few of the cultural arts and museums to visit when in Buffalo.
Burchfield Penney Art Center
At the Burchfield Penney Art Center, or BPAC for short, visitors can peruse 84,000 square feet of exhibits featuring the work of artists from Western New York. The BPAC is home to the most extensive publicly available collection of watercolors by American artist Charles Burchfield. The other exhibits change in rotation so that you can enjoy something new on every visit. The Burchfield Penney Art Center also hosts other events such as concerts and other performances throughout the year. If you are interested in the cultural arts and museums of Buffalo, the BPAC is an institution that you must see.
CEPA
The Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts, or CEPA, started as a contemporary photography and visual arts center for use as a community darkroom and display space. Today, it operates as the CEPA Gallery, with more than 150,000 people each year enjoying the full array of services available. Four galleries feature constantly changing displays and community events. When you visit this staple among cultural arts and museums in Buffalo, you can enjoy multimedia pieces, educational presentations, and open access to darkrooms and digital photo labs. Conveniently located in downtown Buffalo, a visit to CEPA is free, but appointments are required at certain times, so you should call ahead to find out what is needed.
UB Art Gallery
University at Buffalo Art Gallery hosts six to eight exhibitions each year, catering to contemporary artists and university faculty members and students. When you visit, you may see everything from research presentations to artwork and special events. The UB Art Gallery features new and developing artists and those already well-known, so you’ll always find a variety of works to enjoy. This institution is a vital part of the cultural arts and museums scene in Buffalo. It influences the entire community as it teaches the students at the university.
Albright-Knox Art Gallery
The Albright-Knox Art Gallery features an impressive collection of art dating back 150 years, including pieces of fine art, digital assets, and museum archives. Considered by many to be the crown jewel of the cultural arts and museums scene in Buffalo, the Albright-Knox is one of the oldest public art institutions in the United States. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery offers something for every family member, from young children through adults, and the facility is growing to serve its visitors better. The new Buffalo AKG Art Museum is scheduled to open in the spring of 2022 as part of the Elmwood Avenue campus. When completed, the renovations will double the museum’s capacity.
Albright-Knox Public Art Initiative
The Albright-Knox Public Art Initiative allows you to view impressive pieces displayed on a large scale all over the city. The displays are educational and celebrate human diversity in vivid colors and powerful images. You can plan your adventure using the map on the website to avoid missing anything as you travel around the Buffalo area. If you’re traveling with children, get them engaged by making a scavenger hunt of all the art pieces they see. The artwork can also serve as a conversation starter with teenagers and older children.
One of the most unique public art exhibits sits right outside of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Titled Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Monochrome I, Built to Live Anywhere, at Home Here, the piece is made of 60 boats held together by steel wires. Artist Nancy Rubins worked with members of her team and workers from the museum to complete the piece. It speaks to the delicate balance between industry and nature and serves as an icon of Buffalo’s cultural arts and museums.
Alleyway Theatre
The Alleyway Theatre focuses on the creation of new plays and musicals. Dozens of playwrights have presented their first productions on the Alleyway stage over the last 30 years. Even with its focus on new creations, the Alleyway still presents beloved classics, such as A Christmas Carol. The Alleyway is conveniently located near some of the best restaurants in the Buffalo area. Plan to grab dinner before or after the show to experience all the site has to offer. You can find a listing of current productions online.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Graycliff
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Graycliff offers some of the most amazing views in the Buffalo area. From its location, about 20 minutes from downtown Buffalo, visitors can catch glimpses of the beautiful Canadian countryside. You can choose from a variety of tours to find one that fits your interests and your schedule. Parking is free at Graycliff, and you can pick up souvenirs in the gift shop for the folks back home. While Graycliff doesn’t offer food service, the grounds have ample picnic space to enjoy when the weather allows.
Where to Learn More
No matter what brings you to Buffalo, set aside some time to visit the cultural arts and museums that are so prominent in the area. To learn more about any of these attractions or to get help with long or short-term accommodations, contact Ellicott Development today. We’ve been your real estate professionals in the Buffalo, NY area for more than 40 years and can help you with a hotel stay, an apartment, a townhouse, or a business property. Our portfolio includes properties for sale or lease in some of the most sought-after neighborhoods in the area.
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