Buffalo-based artist Chris Piontkowski is known for his brightly colored pop art, which combines influences from street art with echoes of a childhood spent reproducing imagery from his favorite cartoons and video games. Through his work, he aims to inspire others and bring positivity, smiles, and joy to his audiences. Some of his public murals can be found on Elmwood Avenue and Hertel Alley and in Black Rock and Eggertsville. Piontkowski graduated in 2009 from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, where he studied media art and animation.