AKG Public Art Initiative & Evergreen Health collaborate with local artist for new mural

Buffalo AKG Art Museum press release & photo

The Buffalo AKG Art Museum’s Public Art Initiative celebrated a new mural by local artist Bree Gilliam (American, born 2000) at Evergreen Health and affiliate Community Access Services’ (CAS) new location at 3070 Bailey Ave. Evergreen Health and CAS are building a new, comprehensive healthcare center to ensure inclusive and judgment-free health care is accessible, including primary care and pharmacy services.

Gilliam is best known for her figurative oil paintings, which feature expressive, loose brushstrokes. The new mural consists of two figures each looking upward, with bright smiles on their faces. The individuals are flanked by a colorful sky, which can be read as a sunrise, and stand together among a field of daisies. The flowers are symbolic for their association with new beginnings – with the new healthcare hub itself representing a new commitment to the health and well-being for those on the East Side of Buffalo.

New York State Sen. April N.M. Baskin said, “This mural is a beautiful reminder that public investments should enrich people’s lives in every way. I championed Erie County’s Public Art Act because I believe art should not be an afterthought – it creates opportunities for local artists while making our communities more beautiful and welcoming. As Evergreen Health expands access to compassionate healthcare on Buffalo’s East Side, this mural adds beauty and inspiration to a place that will serve the community for generations.

“Congratulations to Bree Gilliam, whose incredible talent is exactly why creating opportunities for local artists through the Public Art Act was so important.”

 Latrese Myers, vice president of marketing and communications for Evergreen Health, said, "This new healthcare hub is about more than expanding access to care. It’s about creating a place where people feel seen, valued and welcomed. We’re especially proud that Evergreen and CAS' new location and mural were shaped by the voices of our staff and the community. We hope this mural inspires a sense of belonging and serves as a reminder that compassionate, judgment-free care awaits everyone who walks through our doors."

Erie County Legislator Taisha St. Jean Tard said, "As the Erie County legislator representing the Kensington-Bailey neighborhood, I am proud to have supported this project. This mural represents anticipation and optimism. This building, the vital services that will be provided here, the mural's messages of 'Keep Looking Up' and 'Brighter Days Ahead,' and the long-awaited investments along Bailey Avenue all tell the same story: Kensington-Bailey is a neighborhood on the rise. Thank you to the Buffalo AKG, Evergreen Health, the incredibly talented artist Bree Gilliam, and all of the partners who helped bring this vision to life.”

Gilliam said, “I am incredibly honored to be a part of this project with Evergreen Health and the Buffalo AKG. My motto is ‘art is power,’ and this mural has the power to inspire hope, joy, and a sense of connection for our community.”

AKG Curator of Public Art Aaron Ott said, “The Public Art Initiative is proud and delighted to work with Evergreen Health, Community Access Services, and Bree Gilliam to create a vibrant and welcoming space for this new location and the people it will serve.”

Gilliam is a figurative painter from Buffalo. She is the owner and founder of Paintphoria, Buffalo’s first paint-throwing studio. Gilliam attended SUNY Buffalo State University, where she received a BFA in painting and a minor in art therapy. In her work, she addresses the social issues that plague society. As a young Black woman, she believes that her responsibility is to depict the perspective of marginalized people, give a voice to the voiceless, and empower her community.

In 2023, Gilliam was selected as an artist-in-residence at Hunt Art Gallery. Her work has been featured in several exhibitions around Western New York. Some of these include a solo exhibition, “INSPIRED,” at BOX Gallery and Buffalo Arts Studio, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center’s “Amid/In WNY 2024,” and Burchfield Penney Art Center’s “Sharing Our View: 25th Anniversary.” She has been commissioned to paint several murals in the Western New York area.

Recently, Gilliam assisted in the creation of a mural with the Buffalo AKG and Eat Off Art on the Jesse E. Nash Medical Center at 608 William St., Buffalo. In 2023, the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area chose Gilliam to paint her mural titled “Free Your Mind.” Gilliam has received more than 10 academic awards and scholarships during her time at Buffalo State. These include the Dean's Award for Excellence in the School of the Arts and Sciences, the Robert C. and Marilyn Wilson Painting Scholarship, and the SUNY Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship.

This project is generously supported by St. Jean Tard and an anonymous donor in celebration of Buffalo's emerging public artists. Additional support is provided by the Keller family. The Public Art Initiative was established and is supported by leadership funding from the County of Erie and the City of Buffalo.

Evergreen Health fosters healthy communities by providing medical, supportive and behavioral services to individuals and families in Western New York – especially those who are living with chronic illness or who are underserved by the healthcare system. For more information, visit evergreenhs.org.

Community Access Services (CAS) is committed to addressing the epidemic of HIV and other diseases that challenge the welfare of urban communities in Buffalo and Erie County by ensuring the availability of comprehensive care services, including prevention education and treatment. For more information, visit www.caswny.org.

The Public Art Initiative was born in 2013 out of a partnership between the Buffalo AKG Art Museum and Erie County, soon after joined by the City of Buffalo. Since then, in more than 60 murals, installations, residencies, and works of sculpture, it has sought to empower artists, inspire viewers, and strengthen a sense of the shared landscape with art that reflects the beauty and vitality of the many communities that shape it.

Founded in 1862, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum is the sixth-oldest public art institution in the U.S. For more than 160 years, the Buffalo AKG has collected, conserved and exhibited the art of its time, often working directly with living artists. This tradition has given rise to one of the world’s most extraordinary collections of modern and contemporary art.

In June 2023, following the completion of the most significant campus development and expansion project in its history, the Buffalo AKG opened anew to the public. The project was funded by a $230 million capital campaign, the largest such campaign for a cultural institution in the history of Western New York, including $195 million raised for construction and $35 million in additional operating endowment funds.