Park News Article
Tour the Incredible Art at Quackenbush Square!
October 17, 2024
Albany, NY is a city brimming with vibrant public art around every corner! Here in New York’s Capital City, a blossoming hub of incredible art can be found at ParkAlbany’s Quackenbush Garage, Quackenbush Parking Lot and within Quackenbush Square. From colorful Capital Walls murals to striking sculptures and beyond, these amazing works of art have transformed once overlooked spaces into a collection of picturesque sites! So, grab your walking shoes and your camera and get ready to tour ParkAlbany’s truly unique art collection! And don’t worry about circling for street parking, our Quackenbush Garage and Lot are located right in the middle of all the amazing art waiting to be discovered!
“Mix Tape” by Hellbent
When you pull up to the Quackenbush Garage, one of the first things you’ll see is the colorful Capital Walls mural “Mix Tape” by Hellbent! Hellbent, a Brooklyn-based street artist, created this massive mural fusing influences from the patterns of traditional Dutch porcelain and colors of the Albany and New York State flags, featuring pops of green, yellow, blue, and purple! This striking façade-spanning piece was created in May of 2017 and is inspired by Albany’s rich Dutch heritage.
“Back to Life” by D. Colin
Located on both sides of a highway support pillar near the entrance to the Quackenbush Garage, D. Colin’s mural “Back To Life” has brought an uplifting energy to Albany’s vibrant public art collection since 2022! This lovely double-sided Capital Walls mural features brilliant pops of color and beautiful nature imagery through this local artist/poet’s depiction of a woman, a hand, flowers, and butterflies, that channels her belief in the power of the universe to both provide and nurture.
“Awaken” by Stacey Healey
After pulling into the Quackenbush Garage, you’ll be greeted by a curious painted pup on your left! Titled “Awaken”, this unique sculpture was painted by Stacey Healey in 2019 as part of the Downtown Albany BID’s “Downtown Is Pawsome” public art campaign. This campaign gave local artists a blank canvas to pay homage to Albany’s unofficial mascot, Nipper, and create their own unique rendition of this iconic Albany dog. Featuring a third eye and a tree of life, Healey’s striking sculpture is a must-see along your art-filled journey through the Art at ParkAlbany!
“Explore” by Ramiro Davaro-Comas
Just to your left past the “Awaken” sculpture, you’ll find “Explore”: a colorful wall-spanning Capital Walls mural by Ramiro-Davaro Comas! Created in 2023, this nature-infused mural features pops of blue, green, purple, and red, and places an emphasis on nature and adventure. Through this mural, featuring the phrases “Explore” and “Experience Downtown” across two walls, Ramiro created a wonderful balance between rigidity and flow and encourages residents and visitors alike to explore Albany and enjoy all it has to offer!
“Geraldine’s Reverie” by Elizabeth Zunon
Upon exiting the Quackenbush Garage, you’ll discover another massive wall-spanning mural titled “Geraldine’s Reverie”! Painted by Elizabeth Zunon in 2018, this whimsical piece stretches along the once-plain concrete I-787 exit ramp and has transformed it into an eye-catching, playful mural featuring children playing, people dancing and making music. According to Zunon, this amazing mural was inspired by her childhood in Africa and the “overall freedom of expression that the arts and entertainment bring to our lives”!
“Upstate Albany Portrait Landscape” by Greg Dunn
Rounding the corner towards the Quackenbush Lot and Quackenbush Square, “Upstate Albany Portrait Landscape” boldly comes into view! Created in 2023 by local mixed media artist Greg Dunn, this vibrant mural depicts the skyline and cultural highlights of the City of Albany, featuring iconic sites like the Palace Theatre, Nipper, City Hall, and Albany’s skyline! With an emphasis on bright colors and 70s/80s imagery, this energetic mural brings more amazing color and fun to the outside of the Quackenbush Garage!
“Industrial Anthropology” by Stephanie Levay
Right below “Upstate Albany Portrait Landscape” is another wonderful painted pup, this one titled “Industrial Anthropology”! Painted in 2019 by Albany-based artist Stephanie Levay, this paw-some sculpture features a bright pop of red amidst black and gold hues and has been affectionately dubbed “Deadpool Nipper” by some visitors! Peacefully sitting next to the dog water fountain during the warmer months, this amazing sculpture has been the subject of dog photo shoots and family pictures for 5 years now!
*Industrial Anthropology is on display seasonally from early spring through mid-fall*
“Bluebirds” by Michael Conlin
Continuing towards the Quackenbush Parking Lot and Quackenbush Square, look up to discover “Bluebirds” by Michael Conlin! This massive Capital Walls mural has welcomed visitors to Downtown Albany since 2016 and spans the northern façade of the Quackenbush Garage. Featuring a flock of Eastern Bluebirds, Conlin’s vibrant mural pays homage to official bird of New York State and as the first Capital Walls mural it was the catalyst for the ever-expanding art collection at Quackenbush Square and throughout Downtown Albany!
“Belonging” by Adam Fujita
Just around the corner as you enter scenic Quackenbush Square is the uplifting Capital Walls mural “Belonging” by renowned muralist Adam Fujita! Known for his striking neon-inspired murals found across the United States, “Belonging” was completed in September 2022, and has provided an incredible backdrop for Quackenbush Square for photoshoots and positive vibes ever since! Featuring a feel-good message and a mystifying pop of color, this mural brought Adam’s signature style to New York’s Capital City in a truly remarkable way.
“Hypaethral Redux” by Jeremy Entwistle
Between Adam Fujita’s mural and the delicious Common Roots Brewing Company is the incredible sculpture “Hypaethral Redux” by Jeremy Entwistle! Installed in 2023, this striking sculpture by the seasoned adjunct professor of sculpture at Union College is comprised of black painted wood and metal, forming into an abstract piece that channels an organic yet industrial feeling! Take a walk around the perimeter of this sculpture to appreciate its sharp angles and striking interplay with its historic surroundings.
“Meter Art” by Various Albany Barn Artists
Walking back towards the captivating murals of the Quackenbush Parking Lot, you’ll encounter ten repurposed parking meters painted by artists from the Albany Barn! Commissioned by ParkAlbany in 2024, this incredible artist collective came together to transform old, unused parking meters into a vibrant collection of colorful art that brightens the space underneath the Albany Skyway! Be sure to take the time to check out every meter, as each one was painted by a different artist and features a completely different style than the last!
“Flight + Float” by John Breiner
Just beyond the meter art is the first of several amazing double-sided Capital Walls murals upon the support beams of the overpass above the Quackenbush Parking Lot. “Flight + Float” was created by John Breiner in 2019 and brings a truly commanding presence to the lot, with one side featuring a majestic eagle soaring above a colorful background and the other side featuring an intricately painted seafaring scene. Fun Fact: “Float” pays homage to legendary author Herman Melville, who lived in Clinton Square, just a few blocks away back in the early 1800s!
“Modern + Organic Systems” by NDA Street Art
As you walk further into the Quackenbush Lot, the second double-sided Capital Walls mural titled “Modern Systems + Organic Systems” comes into view! Created in 2019 by prominent Philadelphia street artist NDA Street Art, these abstract murals encourage viewers to examine the relationship between industry and nature, with its grey and copper areas referencing building and industry while the blue references the significance of the nearby Hudson River to nature and transportation.
“Journey” by Arzu Fallahi
After checking out the previous double-sided murals, continue further into the Quackenbush Parking Lot and discover the incredible pops of blue, yellow, and red radiating from the double-sided Capital Walls mural “Journey”! Created by artist Arzu Fallahi in 2019, this piece features an abstract pattern on one side and a paper boat scene on the other, symbolizing the significance of an immigrant’s journey and her experience as a citizen of both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Be sure to look carefully for all the amazing details throughout this mural.
“Paradise Pattern” by Vanessa Mastronardi
Walking further into the Quackenbush Lot, take a moment to stop and admire the summer energy emanating from the double-sided Capital Walls mural “Paradise Pattern”! Created by New York artist Vanessa Mastronardi in 2019, her mural depicts a colorful, feel-good vibe with bright pops of color set in front of cool, oceanic tones. With dolphin balloons, an inflatable pool, and a flamingo, both sides of this energetic mural channel the summer fun all year long in Downtown Albany!
“Courage” by Rosy Sunshine
Finally, in the Quackenbush Parking Lot is the joyful Capital Walls mural “Courage” by Rosy Sunshine! Created in 2019, this colorful mural represents migration as a process of nature and as a survival response, all shown through striking pops of green, red, and blue. Featuring rain clouds juxtaposed by an umbrella held by an abstract smiling face above an assortment of fish, Rosy’s mural is an amazing closing piece among the vibrant murals throughout the Quackenbush Lot!
“The Meeting of Houses” by Jeremy Entwistle
After walking back through the lot and through Quackenbush Square, one more amazing sculpture awaits in the foreground of the Clinton Market Collective, “The Meeting of Houses”! Created and installed by Jeremy Entwistle in 2024, this sculpture stands ten feet tall and is comprised of concrete and metal formed into the shape of abstract houses, showcasing “how buildings have been critical structures from our humble beginnings to present day”.
Art enthusiasts have an amazing destination in Downtown Albany with ParkAlbany’s Art at Quackenbush Square, and we encourage lovers of murals, sculptures, and beyond to experience all the world-class public art found here For those coming from out of town, park where the art is in the Quackenbush Garage and Lot, and while exploring the art be sure to stop into the Discover Albany Visitors Center and the Irish American Heritage Museum before capping off your day with some pints and bites from the Olde English Pub and Common Roots Brewing, all located in Quackenbush Square!
