Storefront Gallery Project
The Storefront Gallery transforms windows along High Street into a walkable, outdoor art experience. Featuring original work by local artists, each window invites you to pause, reflect, and engage with the creativity that thrives in Holyoke.
This gallery aims to increase foot traffic downtown, foster connection through shared experiences, and serve as a link between the historic core of High Street and the surrounding murals and cultural landmarks across the city. It is a celebration of Holyoke’s creative spirit—and a testament to how art can shape more vibrant, inclusive, and livable public spaces.
Whether you're a neighbor, visitor, or just passing through, we invite you to experience High Street as a living gallery—open to all.
Featured Artists
Kahli Hernandez
By Any Means
Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Springfield, MA, Kahli Hernandez has always been drawn to creativity. As a kid, a #2 pencil and computer paper were his tools of choice — though no surface was safe, including his mom’s kitchen walls and furniture.
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Kahli’s creative journey led him to digital art, discovering the power of “Paint” on his dad’s old Windows 98 computer. From there, he evolved into mixed media, combining bold lines, vibrant colors, cartoon-inspired characters, graffiti energy, and a sense of play.
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Today, Kahli uses acrylic, oil, and aerosol to bring his art to life, refusing to be boxed into one style. His mission? To ignite his hometown with purpose, culture, and inspiration — and to be a beacon of the creative force rooted in Springfield.
Destiny Santiago
Aviva
Destiny Santiago (they/them), a self-taught Puerto Rican artist and founder of Twisted Village Customs, has been creating since 2013. Based in Massachusetts, they are a multidisciplinary, multimedia artist who works primarily on canvas but never limits their reach — expanding art on and off the wall with scale, texture, and depth.
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Their work explores connection and complexity, emphasizing vibrant color, layered techniques, and cultural intersections. By drawing attention to the lived experiences of marginalized communities, Destiny invites critical dialogue while celebrating identity, resilience, and heritage.
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As a committed advocate for equity in the arts, Destiny is passionate about building spaces that showcase underrepresented artists and normalize collaborative, inclusive relationships between people and art. Their mission is to foster a world where diverse voices are not just visible — but valued, collected, and celebrated.
Jankaleishka (Jankie) Cruz
The Phoenix
Jankie Cruz is a Puerto Rican visual artist who works primarily in watercolor and drawing. Born in Juncos, Puerto Rico and raised in Springfield, MA, her artwork weaves together childhood memories and Puerto Rican identity to create dreamy, layered images that elevate the everyday and stir feelings of longing and nostalgia.
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For years, Jankie felt distanced from representing her heritage in her work — until she realized that her identity and lived experience are the culture. Her unique artistic voice blends modern sensibilities with traditional references, resulting in vibrant, densely composed pieces that feel both personal and universally familiar.
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“I use varying aesthetics and cram as much into one space as possible,” she says. “With this, I aim to create art that feels fun and reminiscent of collective memories.”
Lora McNeece Barrett
Wash Day
Lora’s artistic journey began with childhood curiosity and a love for drawing, supported by encouraging parents and teachers. After earning the “Class Artist” award her senior year of high school, she pursued an Art degree at Elms College and began teaching art in Holyoke — a city that continues to be both her home and muse.
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Lora went on to earn a Doctorate in Education from UMass Amherst, later teaching Art Education at the university. Over the years, she has been recognized with numerous honors, including Massachusetts Middle School Art Teacher of the Year and Massachusetts Higher Education Art Educator of the Year.
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Inspired by Holyoke’s industrial heritage, Lora has created hundreds of mill and factory paintings, capturing the city’s back alleys, churches, and charm — including “Wash Day,” the work featured in the Storefront Gallery. Her signature floral paintings, fueled by her passion for gardening, push color and vibrancy to joyful extremes.
Her work has been exhibited across Massachusetts and internationally, including shows in Paris, Wellfleet, Provincetown, and at Wistariahurst Museum, which will host a solo show of 99 floral paintings this fall (September 2–25, 2025).
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You can find Lora’s work at The Holyoke ARTery, 289 High Street, or by appointment with the artist.
Caoin Springer O'Durgy
Dinos on our Community Paths
Originally from Ogden, Utah, Caoin O’Durgy moved to Massachusetts to earn his Illustration degree from MassArt. With a background as a high school math teacher, Caoin blends education and creativity in his public art practice — designing interactive, community-centered installations that bring people together across age and background.
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His whimsical, vibrant works often emerge from participatory workshops, emphasizing collaboration and connection as the foundation of his process. Whether leading youth programs or transforming walls into colorful landmarks, Caoin brings joy and accessibility to every project.
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Now based in the Boston area, he continues to expand his public art career and connect with new communities through shared creative experience.
Natasha Colon Ortiz
Maribel's Tree
Natasha Colon Ortiz, also known as Coach Tash, is an artist, teacher, and community leader whose work brings color and culture to life across Western Massachusetts. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Holyoke, Natasha is a Wheaton College graduate with a degree in Neuroscience and a minor in Studio Arts — a unique pairing that informs her thoughtful, layered approach to art.
Natasha is the founder of Paper City Arts, providing dynamic arts services including public school teaching, mural painting, and creative workshops for all ages. She has collaborated with regional organizations like Beyond Walls, Community Mural Institute, Holyoke Art, and Nueva Esperanza, leaving a trail of vibrant, community-centered work.
Her eclectic art style blends multimedia, fandom, abstraction, gesture, and play — often inspired by her cultural heritage, her love of whimsy, and the natural world. Whether painting, teaching, or organizing, Natasha fosters spaces where artistic freedom, healing, and joy thrive.
Gabriela Sepulveda Ortiz
Beneath The Deku Tree
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriela Sepúlveda Ortiz is known for her imaginative, emotionally rich artwork that bridges cultures and invites viewers into layered, dreamlike worlds. Her dynamic style weaves storytelling, surrealism, and sci-fi influences into vibrant visual experiences.
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Gabriela earned her MFA from Atlantic University College after studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and her influences range from Moebius to Camilla d’Errico, comics, and Pop Surrealism. Every piece she creates is an invitation — to feel, to think, and to connect.
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A recent member of the Higgins artist team, Gabriela has also collaborated on public murals with artists like Gretta McClain and Pablo Kalaka, and was awarded the 2023 Arts Next Up Showcase Award and “People’s Choice” at The D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts Community Gallery.
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Through comics, murals, and multimedia work, she remains committed to building inclusive creative spaces and using her art to foster unity, imagination, and possibility.
Robert Markey
Nepali Woman Laughing
Robert Markey is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans painting, sculpture, mosaics, video, and large-scale public installations. Over the years, he has created public art projects in cities across the U.S., including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, and Minneapolis — as well as internationally in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Israel, India, Afghanistan, and more.
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Much of Robert’s work is rooted in collaboration and social impact — creating mosaic murals with youth in vulnerable situations, painting murals with refugees in the U.S. and Greece, and working with tribal painters in India. His early video work aired on PBS, and his public performance art addressing domestic violence received national media attention.
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Robert’s sculptures have been exhibited in a wide range of venues including The Norman Rockwell Museum, Chesterwood in Stockbridge, 3 Sisters Sanctuary in Goshen, and Sculpture Fest in Woodstock, VT.
His work is powerful, connective, and deeply human — aligning perfectly with the vision of the Storefront Gallery.
Peter O. Zierlein
Down by the River
Peter O. Zierlein is a German-born illustrator, educator, and public artist known for his bold and intricate cut paper artwork. Using an x-acto knife as his primary drawing tool, Peter crafts graphically powerful, high-contrast images — where every incision is sharp, final, and intentional.
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This unique approach has allowed Peter’s art to move fluidly across mediums, becoming fine art, murals, stencils, textiles, wallpapers, posters, cover illustrations, installations, and even boats. His work challenges the boundaries of traditional illustration while remaining instantly recognizable and visually striking.
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Peter teaches drawing at Holyoke Community College and teaches drawing, painting, and printmaking at Springfield Technical Community College. He also creates custom murals and public artworks throughout the region.
With a global aesthetic and local impact, Peter’s work brings precision, beauty, and surprise to every space it inhabits — including the Storefront Gallery.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Holyoke's Storefront Art Project brings new life to downtown by transforming vacant High Street storefronts into vibrant public art displays.
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Through a competitive open call in early 2025, we received many submissions from talented local artists. We’ve secured permission to display in several windows and are currently selecting artwork and producing large-format prints at our Print Shop. Installation is underway, with more to come as we continue working to expand the project throughout the district.
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Join us for the official Unveiling and Walking Tour on Tuesday, July 30 from 4–6pm at 289 High Street! Meet the artists, view the artwork, and enjoy refreshments as we celebrate the creative transformation of downtown Holyoke.
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Check back here for updates, behind-the-scenes photos, and images of the artwork as it’s created, installed, and exhibited!
PLEASE NOTE: APPLICATION IS CURRENTLY CLOSED
This project has been made possible by
MCC's Creative Experiences Program & the Holyoke Local Cultural Council
