The Buffalo AKG celebrated the completion of a mural on the new Perry Homes in downtown Buffalo. The mural by internationally celebrated artist Elio Mercado (a.k.a. Evoca1) is the latest manifestation of the partnership between the Buffalo AKG and the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA). In 2023, the Buffalo AKG Public Art Initiative completed Aaron Li-Hill’s What Is Here, the museum’s tallest mural to date, on the BMHA’s LBJ Apartments on Humboldt Parkway.

Starting in the fall of 2025, the museum began meetings with the residents of Perry Homes to consider what the mural would ultimately become. In hearing the residents’ stories, learning their interests, and thinking together about the best artwork that could be collaboratively produced, Mercado was selected to produce the mural. The museum also enlisted photographer DJ Carr, a Buffalo native, to photograph the residents. Carr’s photographs were later incorporated into the mural design along with other elements proposed by the residents. 

“It is an honor to continue to work with the residents of the BMHA,” said Aaron Ott, Curator of Public Art at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. “A core belief of the Buffalo AKG is that art is for everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status. We believe that residents of public and affordable housing are entitled to benefit from the resources of the museum just as much as anyone else. Meeting and learning from the residents has been immensely rewarding, and we are proud of the new artwork that Elio Mercado produced in dialogue with them.” 

“We are extremely grateful for our ongoing relationship with the AKG, which is bringing the wonder of public art to BMHA residents. We expect that residents of the new Perry Homes and Commodore Perry will feel the same pride and joy in this mural that our residents at LBJ Apartments continue to feel about their mural,” said BMHA Executive Director Gillian D. Brown. “This work by Elio Mercado, like Aaron Li-Hill’s at LBJ, reflects the lived experiences of this BMHA community, creating a deeply personal and special connection for all who live and work in the Perry neighborhood.”

“Perry Homes residents helped shape this mural from the beginning, and their faces and stories are now part of the artwork that welcomes people to their community,” Mayor Sean Ryan said. “As we build quality, affordable housing, we’re also investing in places where people can gather, connect, and feel proud to call home. Thank you to the Buffalo AKG, BMHA, Elio Mercado, and Buffalo’s own DJ Carr for working with residents to bring their vision to life.”

The mural is located on the community building that was constructed in Phase 1 of the BMHA’s Perry Homes development project. When all phases are complete, the new Perry Homes will include 405 high-quality, all-electric apartments, all of which will be affordable to households with incomes at or below 60% of the Area Median Income, as well as comprehensive on-site amenities.

“Perry Homes stand as a glance into Buffalo’s past, present, and future,” said New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes. “With the construction of 405 new units at Perry, as part of Phase 1 of the redevelopment, it is only natural to create an art installation to go along with the rebuild. I look forward to seeing what artist Elio Mercado and Perry residents come up with. Thank you to the BMHA and Buffalo AKG for helping to foster this artistic endeavor.”

New York State Senator April N.M. Baskin said, “Congratulations to Elio Mercado and DJ Carr for bringing the vision of Perry Homes residents to life and creating a work of art that reflects their stories and their community. Public art should never be an afterthought when we invest in our neighborhoods, which is why, as Chairwoman of the Erie County Legislature, I fought for the Erie County Public Art Act to create more opportunities for artists to bring meaningful art to all residents. Thank you to Buffalo AKG for continuing to invest in public art and working to make art more accessible throughout our community. I’m proud to support that mission in the State Senate, including by securing $200,000 in state funding for the museum.”

"Public art has the power to bring people together, celebrate our community, while telling the stories that make Buffalo so unique," said Erie County Legislator Lawrence Dupre. "This mural is a beautiful example of what can happen when creativity and community come together. This mural adds vibrancy to the Perry Homes while creating a lasting symbol of pride and connection in this community."

Buffalo Common Council Majority Leader Leah Halton-Pope said, “Perry Homes holds deep significance for so many Buffalonians who have lived, grown up, and raised their families there. With this new public art installation, that rich history and legacy will remain a permanent part of the redeveloped housing community. Thank you to the Buffalo AKG Art Museum and the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority for centering the voices, memories, and stories of Perry Homes residents in the creation of this piece, and to artists Elio Mercado and Buffalo’s own DJ Carr for bringing that vision to life so beautifully. As we continue to build new, quality affordable housing, we must also invest in the spaces and amenities that make a community feel like home—spaces that reflect the vision, values, history, and people who make these neighborhoods so special.”

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About the Artist

Elio Mercado’s (aka Evoca1) creative mission is to create artworks that enhance the overall livability for each space. Today, he continues to hone his craft, expand his artistic repertoire, and share his vision around the globe. Mercado’s working approach for this project included visits with the residents in early 2026 to discuss, share ideas, take photographs, and collaborate with local artists.

Mercado considers himself more than an artist; he is also a humanitarian. He founded the non-profit organization "Sketches for Mankind," aimed at addressing homelessness and providing medical assistance in his home country, the Dominican Republic, and for others in South Florida. He believes in using his global platform to inspire change and give back to his community, imbuing his artwork with an added layer of significance. EVOCA1's commitment to humanitarian efforts has garnered him respect and admiration far beyond the sphere of art. His work serves as a powerful reminder that art can be a force for societal change, demonstrating the profound potential for creativity to catalyze real-world impact.

A defining aspect of Mercado's work is his commitment to interacting with the communities where he creates his art. His creative process often involves integrating himself into local cultures and histories, leading to deeply personal and context-sensitive murals.

Mercado's style is a harmonious blend of realism and abstraction, with large-scale murals that engage viewers in immersive storytelling. He makes use of warm hues and intricate details to lend his works a sense of depth and intimacy, focused on incorporating elements of those communities that he collaborates with.

Each piece is a rich tapestry of symbolism and metaphor, here including Perry residents and their stories. EVOCA1's artistry goes beyond the visual, reaching into the realm of the emotional and psychological. He portrays the complexities of human life and society through his captivating and thought-provoking art. His work does not simply reflect reality; it also challenges and stretches it, opening spaces for dialogue and engagement.

Elio Mercado's journey as EVOCA1 stands as an inspiring testament to the transformative power of art. His progression from a young artist in the Dominican Republic to an internationally celebrated figure underscores the potential of art to transcend boundaries and make lasting impressions for local communities even when they reach a global scale.
 

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About DJ Carr

DJ Carr is a self-taught artist from Buffalo, New York, specializing in portraiture, documentary, and street photography. An artist truly known for his attention to detail, authentic feel and exceptional monochrome captures, he started shooting digital photography roughly 8 years ago and transitioned completely into film photography in 2020. He was inspired by Gordon Parks and his way of documenting and capturing the stories of marginalized people within the inner city. Carr’s focus often falls on those same subjects, capturing the essence of the moment and revealing the truth within.

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About the Public Art Initiative 

The Public Art Initiative was established and is supported by leadership funding from the County of Erie and the City of Buffalo, joined by the New York State Legislature in 2026-2027.

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, we have sought to empower artists, inspire viewers, and strengthen a sense of our shared landscape with art that reflects the beauty and vitality of the many communities that shape it.

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About the Buffalo AKG Art Museum

Founded in 1862, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum is the sixth-oldest public art institution in the United States. 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.

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