1905 Building

The Buffalo Society of Artists: 100 Years, Work from the Permanent Collection was on view to recognize the centennial of the Buffalo Society of Artists.

The Society was founded at the end of the 19th century by a group of artists centered on John Francis Brown’s studio. Organized with the intent of providing the professional artists of Buffalo with an opportunity to exhibit their work, the Society held shows over the course of the 20th century in a number of venues in and around Buffalo. These included the Twentieth Century Club, the Hotel Statler, a small “club quarters” at 56 Virginia Place, the Erie County Savings Bank, and the Lakeview Restaurant.

The activities and camaraderie of this unique group encouraged such honored artists as George Bridgman, Anna Glenny, Frank Penfold, and Florence Julia Bach, who were among the original members, as well as contemporary artists such as Susan Copley and Walter Prochownik. Membership to the Society in 1991 included over 130 artists.

In commenting on the exhibition, Director Douglas G. Schultz stated that the show was the museum’s way of “welcoming the Society home, since their very first show, since their very first show in 1891 was held in The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy galleries, then located in the old Buffalo Public Library in Lafayette Square.”

This exhibition was organized by the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.