CNY Arts Announces Five New Murals Across Onondaga, Oswego, and Cayuga Counties

Artworks Supported by Governor’s CHARM Initiative and Supported by the New York State Council on the Arts

Images of All the CHARM Murals Statewide Available Here

CNY Arts is proud to announce the completion of five new public art murals throughout Onondaga, Oswego, and Cayuga counties. The works are part of the Cultivating Havens for the Arts through Regional Murals (CHARM) program, an initiative from Governor Kathy Hochul and administered by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA).

The murals are:

Colors Across Downtown, Ally Walker, Whitlock Building, 476 South Salina Street, Syracuse, NY

Farm Fresh, Ally Walker, CNY Regional Market, 2100 Park Street, Syracuse, NY

These two interconnected murals have visual representation of the tree of life, hearts, and an abundant harvest. The latter mural was designed with an agricultural theme and highlights New York State’s farmers and rich agriculture.

Untitled Mural, Mural Mania, Integrative Counseling Services, 5 West Cayuga Street, Oswego, NY

Reminiscent of a classic postcard, the design welcomes passersby to the City of Oswego and depicts its beautiful natural, architectural, and historic landmarks.

You can BEE anything when you face the light, Jacqueline Colello of Colello Creations, Bee’z Deli and Grill, 13 East Genesee Street, Baldwinsville, NY

A bright and cheery depiction of bees pollinating sunflowers.

Theodore Case: The Magic of Sound & Light, Arthur the Artist, 41 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY

This mural brings visibility to Auburn’s role in shaping the film industry, ensuring that the city’s legacy as a hub of innovation continues to be recognized and celebrated. The design highlights the collaborative nature of scientific innovation and the many overlooked individuals —including the women of the Case Research Lab—whose contributions were essential to the invention of sound-on-film technology.

The 2026 CHARM program has led to the creation of 42 works of art in 31 counties, building on last year’s initial program of 56 murals across 21 counties. Details of all the murals are available here on the NYSCA website.

“Murals cultivate civic pride, spur community engagement, and become destinations to attract visitors that spark economic development,” said Erika Mallin, Executive Director of the New York State Council on the Arts. “NYSCA is proud to continue this successful program into its second year, supporting more and more public art throughout New York State.”

“We are pleased to have been selected by NYSCA and Governor Hochul to implement this exciting new program,” said Alexander Korman, Executive Director of CNY Arts. “Murals beautify our common spaces, inspire residents, welcome visitors, and celebrate New York’s rich cultural heritage. We are grateful to each project partner and proud of their hard work.”

About the Artists

Ally Walker

An experienced illustrator, graphic designer and mural artist. Walker works in a variety of different mediums from traditional painting to digital art.

Mural Mania

Mural Mania has had many artists throughout its more than fifteen years. Starting out as volunteers in 2007 painting on Winston’s Dream and many professional artists have been hired to paint murals along the Mural Mania trail. Recently they have banded together to paint murals in the Wayne County area.

Jacqueline Collello

Colello specializes in murals and co-creating with clients to bring their images/ideas to life with canvas and paint. She strives to enlighten, inspire and embrace all walks of life through her own personal creations.

Arthur the Artist

Arthur Hutchinson was born and raised in Auburn, NY to Jamaican parents. He attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY where he received a bachelor’s degree in architecture. After working as an architect for 10 years he quit his job to pursue his dream of being an artist. He worked as a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and began creating art of his own. He went on to create a body of work using the same tools and methods learned while working at top architectural firms. His beautiful and strange self-portraits served as a roadmap in search of a true identity while his jubilant digital paintings celebrate the freedom that comes with personal discovery.

About CNY Arts

CNY Arts is the regional Central New York arts council, with a mission to promote, support, and celebrate arts and culture in Central New York. We serve the counties of Cortland, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego. CNY Arts welcomes outreach from arts organizations, individual artists, local cultural institutions or historic sites seeking assistance at [email protected]. To learn more, visit cnyarts.org.

About the New York State Council on the Arts

The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. The New York State Council on the Arts will award more than $161 million in FY 2027, serving organizations and artists across all 10 state regions. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.