Description

The Richardson Olmsted Complex has gone through many names including “Hotel Henry,” “Buffalo State Hospital,” and “Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane.”

Taking twenty-three years to build, the structure was completed in 1895, funded by New York State. It was originally built as a mental health asylum and functioned as such until 1974.

The distinct color of the building comes from its unique stone blocks known as “Medina Sandstone.” These stones are mined in northwestern NY, along the southern coast of Lake Ontario and along the Erie Canal.

 

Please Note: If artwork is purchased, it will be available for pick-up at 78 Allen Street in 1-2 weeks. Please DO NOT removed artworks from walls. You will receive an email when your artwork is ready for pick-up.

 

I aim to explore the relationship between art and documentation through the creation of hand drafted, watercolor renderings of Buffalo buildings reminiscent of the Beaux-Arts Tradition of architectural presentation. This method of drawing and rendering has greatly reduced in popularity as architectural design is now primarily digital. Through the act of hand drafting, I showcase the original design intention of the architect inclusive of proportion, detail, and artistry. I look forward to adding more Buffalo landmarks to this collection over the next several years.

 

Elizabeth D’Amore is an architect and visual artist living in Buffalo. After graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame, she earned her architectural license while working for several firms in Washington DC, New York City, and Buffalo. Elizabeth revisited her love of art and created her company in 2019, Studio D’Amore, to build her architectural art portfolio. Since then, Elizabeth completed an artist residency at Hunt Art Gallery, participated in art festivals and conventions across New York State, and is grateful to have been featured in several solo, group, and permanent exhibitions in the area. Elizabeth has built a portfolio inclusive of several styles that are each rooted in her love of architecture: hand drafted watercolors, digital illustrations, and acrylic geometric abstracts.