Buffalo Proud – Art Exhibit
CEPA Gallery617 Main Street
Market Arcade Building
Buffalo, NY 14203
October 3, 2026
Recurring weekly on Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Thu - Sat 1pm-4pm
(716) 856-2717
FREE
Buffalo Proud is a public art project developed by the New York Immigration Coalition, as a part of its larger New York Proud initiative. The #BuffaloProud campaign will launch Labor Day 2026, featuring photography by Brandon Watson, on billboards around and throughout the city.
This initiative reaffirms the indispensable role of immigrants in shaping New York City’s identity through a living and growing collection of portraits and stories. It serves as a reminder that immigrants are not only integral to our past but essential to our future, driving innovation, creativity, and progress in every corner of our city.
By centering these narratives, all New Yorkers and Buffalo residents are encouraged to reflect and recognize the essential contributions of immigrants, ensuring our city remains a beacon of pride and progress.
THE NEW YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION
The New York Immigration Coalition, a state-wide member-led coalition of immigrant and refugee organizations, works to transform the lives of all New Yorkers by strengthening and building our members’ power, organizing and educating our communities and the public, and using our collective voice to advocate for opportunity and justice.
BRANDON WATSON
I photographed this series to tell stories of people in motion. People who carried their lives, cultures, and families with them as they entered a new world. What they brought with them has shaped and enriched our communities. At a time when marginalized communities continue to face increasing pressure and uncertainty, these images ask us to consider what we stand to lose when we fail to support the people who make our communities stronger.
The photographs are installed in windows, requiring the viewer to physically move in order to see each image in its entirety. That is intentional. It reflects the movement of the participants in Buffalo Proud, who navigated new spaces and circumstances to share their stories.
The work asks us to move, to look closer, to make space, and to recognize the people whose stories are part of our collective identity.
Brandon Watson is a photographer and educator based in Buffalo, New York. His photographs have been published in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Guardian, and The Globe and Mail. His commercial clients include Nike, the NFL, Carhartt, and Airbnb.
Image: Brandon Watson, Grace, Dotty, Dao, and Thanh, 2026, Inkjet print on photo text adhesive fabric, Courtesy of Brandon Watson.
