Although tucked away between homes and shops, Buffalo’s mural arts scene is not something to overlook. Set in the heart of Hertel Avenue, among village shops and cafes, it’s the perfect spot to hang out and take some pictures. The mural project began in 2017 to highlight Hertel Avenue and expand knowledge of the area.
As a co-founder of the murals, Joel Feroleto, a Delaware district Council member, wanted to expand the arts scene in Buffalo and create a more lively space for people to enjoy.
The inspiration behind creating the murals started with a vacation to Miami, where he was captivated by the mesmerizing Wynwood Murals, Feroleto explained in an interview.
Thanks to the persistence of Feroleto and the help of world-renowned street artists like Eduardo Korbra, Buffalo began its own artistic project to create murals on businesses around Hertel.
To further the artistic space in Hertel, Feroleto created the Hertel Alley Street Art Festival to clean up the alley space located behind Hertel, and formed a spot where people would be able to enjoy local art.
The festival allows artists to create art without any restrictions and truly showcase their talents. When artists are commissioned to paint a mural, they are usually faced with many restrictions or specific details of what to include, but according to Feroleto, the Hertel mural artists can follow whatever creative path they choose.
The festival takes place every two years to preserve and maintain the alley area but also allows other artists the chance to present and publicize their art to the community. The next one will occur in June of 2025.
The arts desk can be reached at arts@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
