This collection is more than a culmination of stunning pieces that complement each other visually; it’s a testament to the power of art, and its makers, to shape communities, inspire change, and leave a lasting legacy.
Each artist featured here is a guiding force — creative educators, art advocates, cultural crusaders, and community builders. Whether shaping the minds of the next generation or using their medium to amplify a greater message, these artists have left an indelible mark on the community that surrounds them.
The Imprint Collection invites viewers to look beyond the surface, to see the ripple effect of each brushstroke, and to appreciate the art not just for its beauty, but for the impact it has had — and will continue to have — on the world.
About Muhammad
Predominantly using acrylic and mixed media on canvas, wood, and paper, Muhammad Zaman transforms English, Bangla, and Arabic words into a distinctly new script. Inspired by ancient calligraphic practices, his art incorporates modern and urban techniques and influences.
Abstract, interactive, and conceptual, the pieces layer words and messages about peace and unity, using color to capture tone and energy. A Buffalo Arts Studio resident artist, Muhammad has created seven public art murals, with his work included in private collections in Paris, Lisbon, New York City, and more.
IMPRINT: Through layered and coded calligraphy, Muhammad has created common ground and curiosity. His work dispels cultural and societal differences and aims to, as he does, simply spread joy.
Muhammad Zaman, Bangladesh-American, 1990 Infinite Smiles 1, 2 and 3, Imprint Collection,
2024
Acrylic on Canvas
©Muhammad Zaman 2024
About Ian
A multifaceted artist known for his dynamic work spanning street art, graffiti, and fine art, Ian de Beer began on the streets, gaining recognition for graffiti and mural work. One of his hallmarks is the ability to blend urban aesthetics with contemporary themes. His bold murals and graffiti often tackle social issues, personal identity, and the complexities of modern life. Ian’s work can be found adorning building walls throughout Buffalo, showcasing his journey to respected muralist and fine artist and commitment to addressing contemporary issues through art.
IMPRINT: Ian has created a community in the wake of adversity, mentoring young artists through lessons learned, with an emphasis on the importance of knowing your own personal identity.
Ian de Beer, American, 1987 Hot Toddy, Imprint Collection, 2024
Flashe on canvas
wrapped shaped panel
©Ian de Beer 2024
About Jesse
Part of the Burchfield Penney Art Center’s Living Legacy Project, Jesse Walp is a furniture designer and woodworker. His playful pieces reference the natural world with their precise forms and line, though the creator’s touch has been removed from each work to appear as if evolved from an untainted, perfect source. Jesse teaches at Villa Maria College and Buffalo State University, exhibiting work in group shows in Lewiston, Lockport, Philadelphia, and more. He was awarded the Langley Kenney Prize for his contribution to the Burchfield Penney 2013 Art in Craft Media exhibition.
IMPRINT: By providing the knowledge, tools, and space, Jesse creates an environment where students of the arts can express themselves in unconventional ways.
Jesse Walp, American, 1982 Clutch, Imprint Collection, 2024
Resin
©Jesse Walp
2024
About Kyle
A Buffalo paint, video, and audio artist, Kyle Butler is part of the Living Legacy Project at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. His work portrays themes of decay and vanishing urbanity, he uses architectural structure and language to tell a neighborhood’s story or expose a certain feeling. Curator at Starlight Studio and Gallery and instructor at Villa Maria College and New York State Summer School for the Arts, Kyle has been shown around the country and appeared on All Things Considered.
IMPRINT: As a curator and professor, Kyle enriches Buffalo's cultural landscape, inspiring both artists and audiences to appreciate the intricate narratives within Buffalo’s urban fabric.
Kyle Butler, American, 1985 Other Networks (04) & Reconfigured Ends (07), Imprint
Collection, 2024
Wood and hardware
©Kyle Butler 2024
About Melora
A native New Yorker, Melora Griffis depicts the dramatic and mines the psychological in her art, a reflection of her extensive professional work in theater, television, and film. Doug McClemont, Linda Yablonsky, and the late Robert Long have all written about her psychologically charged pieces dedicated to authentic expression, drawing on intimate and universal concepts. Melora has had several solo exhibitions throughout the state, including at the Pamela Williams Gallery, Lizan Tops Gallery, AE Gallery, Whitney Art Works, The Re Institute, and 571 Projects.
IMPRINT: A Buffalo Native and New York City Resident, Melora has used her most recent collection to showcase the Queen City in a playful and relatable manner. She has watched the creative community in Buffalo blossom from afar and, much like with this collection, never misses an opportunity to amplify the burgeoning art scene and speak fondly of those in it.
Melora Griffis, American, 2015 Misty, Imprint Collection
Oil on canvas
©Melora
Griffis 2024
About Angelina
Born in Utopia Station, Australia, acclaimed Aboriginal artist Angelina Pwerle Ngal is widely known for her finely worked dot paintings. Her subjects often reflect the Bush Plum Ahakeye Dreaming stories of her grandfather’s country. In the 1970s, Angelina and other Utopia women participated in a batik arts project aimed at creating commercial income for their people. Her pieces evolved into a beautiful sense of abstract contemporary work fused with indigenous sense of the spiritual values of the land. Her work has featured in major exhibitions, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and is held in prominent collections worldwide. Angelina speaks only her native Anmatyerr language and rarely leaves the Utopia region.
IMPRINT: In 1986, Angelina became a founding member of the Utopia Women’s Batik Group, dedicated to providing income, showcasing the economic viability of outstations, and proving women’s ownership of the land to significantly elevate their role in the region.
Angelina Pwerle Ngale, Aboriginal, 1947 Aharlper Country, Imprint Collection,
2007
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
©Angelina Pwerle Ngale 2024
About Edreys
A multidisciplinary artist and cofounder of Eat Off Art, Edreys Wajed is known for his dynamic creativity and community impact. The Buffalo native’s talents range from visual art and jewelry design to music production and art curation. Edreys’s work stands out for its high quality and unique presentation. He cofounded Culture, Inc., with a deep commitment to social engagement. The nonprofit focuses on making art accessible to marginalized communities and promoting art as a healing practice. His journey as a creator began early in life, inspiring countless others through his diverse endeavors.
IMPRINT: Through Eat Off Art, Edreys and his wife Alexa have inspired a next generation of creators to find community, compassion, and careers in art.
Edreys Wajed, American, 1974 Electric Relaxation, Imprint Collection,
2024
Acrylic on High-Density Urethane
©Edreys Wajed 2024
Although not officially part of the Imprint Collection, several art pieces have seamlessly become iconic environmental fixtures within Patina 250 since its opening. These works, created by local artists, not only complement the core collection but also enhance the atmosphere with their distinct presence.
They celebrate the creativity and craftsmanship of Western New York's artistic community, adding another layer of meaning to the experience. Through their bold expressions and thoughtful designs, these pieces reflect the region’s spirit and have become integral to the restaurant’s narrative, standing as testaments to the powerful synergy between art, place, and community.
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Peter StevensAsteroids, 2015–16, oil, acrylic, and inkjet transfer on wood
This piece is part of a large body of work inspired by excerpts from the mission logs of the Apollo astronauts. According to Peter, “that was the beginning of an idea to transform the concept of landscape painting by changing the frame of reference. Further readings in the history of astronomy, physics, and cosmology have expanded the scope to include the structure and behavior of the material world at the extreme scales of the very large and the very small.”
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Fontini GalanesUntitled, 2016, charcoal on drywall
The lyrical drawing you see on the curved walls of Patina 250 was a commission, designed and executed by the artist specifically for this site. Galanes' drawings are extemporary; each unique composition reacts to and develops based on a particular space.
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Sarah FonziUntitled (Frame Relief), 2016, cast plaster
This extensive work on the above soffit (mainly visible from Delaware Ave.) was a commission, designed and executed by the artist specifically for this site. The lighting effects add an element of change and color to the piece, and on an evening while you are sitting at the bar, you can see a beautiful reflection in the glass as you gaze above toward the windows.
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Kevin KeglerThe Light Will Blind You, 2017, White Pine, Gold Leaf
Kevin Kegler has been an active studio artist exhibiting sculpture, paintings, and prints nationally, internationally, and throughout Western New York. He’s a professor in the Visual and Performing Arts department at Daemen College in Amherst, NY, where he directs the sculpture and graphic design programs.
The original collection of artwork at Patina 250, which has long been a celebrated part of the restaurant’s identity, is now being thoughtfully relocated to make way for a new wave of creativity. These cherished pieces, which have adorned the space with elegance and captured the essence of local artistry, will now find a new home with Scott Bieler Child Advocacy Center at BestSelf Behavioral Health, a vital community fixture.
By bringing this collection to the Child Advocacy Center, we not only preserve its legacy but also extend its reach, allowing it to inspire and uplift those who walk through its doors. This transition celebrates both the evolving nature of art and the enduring impact these works have on the community.
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Ani Hoover
Twelve Small Paintings, 2006–2011 acrylic, ink, and spray paint on YUPO paper
Once hung at the top of the ramp in the dining room of Patina 250 are 12 framed paintings on paper by Ani Hoover. Hoover’s abstractions take the elemental circle as a repeated motif. A wonderful texture and movement is achieved using brightly colored pigments and layers of different mediums.
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Jozef Bajus
Three Untitled Mixed Media Works, 2016 paper, staples
Bajus is known for creating aesthetically pleasing and contemplative art objects out of detritus or discarded material of our culture. The three works installed at Patina 250 transform mundane materials of staples and paper into glittery geometric fields. Bajus is based in Buffalo.
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Peter Stephens
Big Bang, 2012 ink, shellac, acrylic, and oil on canvas
Peter Stephens is a Buffalo-based painter who had two works displayed in Patina 250 upon opening. This impressive piece was featured in the main dining room and was part of a larger collection inspired by the Apollo astronauts. Stephens is interested in the science of the natural world, leading him to read deeply into the physics behind mechanisms of pattern generation.
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Rebecca Allan
Homage to Joan Mitchell, 2009 acrylic tondo
Rebecca Allan is a New York–based visual artist known for her richly layered and chromatically nuanced abstract paintings. This transcendental piece was inspired by Joan Mitchell, a renowned American artist and frequent source of inspiration for Rebecca’s work.