Phoenix Sculpture Installed at Buffalo Art Park
Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera announced a phoenix-inspired sculpture at the LoveU Buffalo Art Park on Thompson Street in the Black Rock neighborhood.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in African-American
Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera announced the installation of a phoenix-inspired sculpture at LoveU Buffalo Art Park, located at 99 Thompson Street in Buffalo's Black Rock neighborhood. The sculpture was created by Larry W. Griffis III in collaboration with Arts Services Inc. of Western New York and the River Rock Community Coalition.
Why it matters
The sculpture was fabricated to reflect the ideals of the LoveU Buffalo movement and is designed to make the formerly underutilized lot a place for unity within the neighborhood. New York State provided the funding for the project.
The park occupies a property the River Rock Community Coalition purchased in January 2026, and it includes a walking path, landscaped rock gardens, and multiple murals. The source does not provide measurements, cost figures, or a public opening date for the sculpture.
The players
Jon D. Rivera
Jon D. Rivera is a New York State Assemblymember who announced the installation of the phoenix-inspired sculpture at the park.
River Rock Community Coalition
The River Rock Community Coalition is a community organization that purchased the vacant Thompson Street property and partnered on the sculpture.
Larry W. Griffis III
Larry W. Griffis III is the artist who created the phoenix-inspired sculpture for the park.
Arts Services Inc. of Western New York
Arts Services Inc. of Western New York is an arts organization that collaborated with Griffis on the sculpture.
The details
Griffis was commissioned to develop a phoenix-inspired design, and a number of artistic components were incorporated into the formerly underutilized lot. The park is designed to host community art experiences, outdoor workshops, and classes for local youth and veterans.
Timeline
January 2026: The River Rock Community Coalition purchased the vacant property at 99 Thompson Street.
November 2, 2026: Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera announced the sculpture installation.
Culture Shift
The LoveU Buffalo movement, which this sculpture was fabricated to reflect, is being expressed through a permanent public art space in Black Rock. The park's rotating installations and community workshops mark a move from a vacant lot toward shared neighborhood use.
Residents of the Black Rock neighborhood can visit the park's walking path, murals, and rotating public art installations. The park is designed to host community art experiences, outdoor workshops, and classes for local youth and veterans.
The takeaway
Converting a vacant lot into a shared art space gives a Buffalo neighborhood a place for workshops, classes, and community gathering. Residents interested in the park's programming can follow the River Rock Community Coalition's activity in Black Rock.
Further reading
Explore more African-American culture coverage to see how community art spaces like this one reflect Black cultural expression in Buffalo.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Buffalo Rising.
