"It's a mosaic that looks like a Buffalo made from thousands of self portraits drawn by people of our community."

How It Began...

Brian Nesline was inspired to create a bridge between artists, non-artists and art itself. In imagining a solution to his quest, he used the Creative Problem Solving model (CPS) from his creative studies coursework at Buffalo State College, where he received his BFA in Graphic Design. 

The end result was "Faces of Buffalo", the first ever community-wide event of its kind in that everyone is welcome to participate each year by creating their self portraits and other drawings to be united into beautiful mosaics representing the community.

Buffalo at Home Article [11.15.06]
The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival [10.13.04]
The Danbury News Times Article [06.15.04]
The Buffalo News Story [07.06.03]
Artvoice Interview [06.06.02]
International Creativity Day Celebration

The Mission...Engage a Community!

Faces of Buffalo continues to expand the concept of public art by including every participant as an artist. The aim of Nesline’s “ Faces of …” innovation is to excite and unite communities through simple, practical creative expression.

In spring 2002, Brian Nesline and his now wife Mary Nesline began to collect self-portraits from every willing participant in the community. 

Self Portrait Response Forms© were made available at events and locations throughout the area. The vision was to create a large scale mosaic of a Buffalo using all of the faces. Close up, viewers see all of the individual self-portraits; from a distance - It's a Buffalo!
 

And it Grew...

By the end of the first collection year [2002], Faces of Buffalo visited over 20 community organizations, schools, and events, and collected nearly 1,000 self portraits. In June of 2003 Faces of Buffalo released its 2002-2003 opening year mosaic.

In 2003 participation increased to over 3,500 self portraits which were united into an all new Buffalo mosaic along with six other images representing an Architectural Series. The exhibit was displayed  at the Arts Council in Buffalo & Erie County, The Virginia Weiss Gallery of Empire State College located on the 3^rd Floor of the Market Arcade, then it moved into the Buffalo Niagara International Airport where it remained during the 2004 and 2005 holiday seasons.

In 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Faces of Buffalo opened at the Buffalo Home & Garden Show, raising funds for charities such as the Buffalo Firefighters Guardian Foundation, Friends of the Night People and The Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In 2007 Faces of Buffalo for Charity exhibited at the McKinley Mall, covering 300 feet of wall space. Passerby's were able to draw their face at the mall and buy select matted prints to support a charity. Recent Projects include Faces of BlueCross BlueShield, Faces of Fisher-Price and in 2010 "Faces of the Falls" which celebrates 125 years of  Niagara Falls State Park. Pet Faces of Buffalo invites participants to create their pet portrait for a mosaic of a buffalo made entirely from pets! As time goes on Mr. Nesline sees Faces of Buffalo continuing to support a wide variety of local charities while bringing this creative experience to communities year after year. It's becoming a tradition, a staple of Buffalo. We are all creative and we all have a place in the mosaics.

"I sense deeply that the 'Faces of...' idea and the continued expression of it is an example of what Jesus meant when He said 'it is the Father that does the works, not I'. The success of my endeavors comes from drawing on Loving and Caring Activity as the Source of all things Good. I have a relationship with God through the practical spiritual teachings of  Jesus Christ", says Nesline.

Interactive Art Projects, School Fundraising and More...

Prints of the mosaics are available through retail stores, fundraising events and directly from the artist through this website.

Each year we are all re-invited to participate in creating our faces and carrying on the tradition of uniting the community with Faces of Buffalo. Nesline's branch of business, Faces for Fundraising™ contracts to do special mosaic projects with schools and not-for-profits as an innovative program to heighten creativity and raise money. Mr. Nesline also offers special mosaics of companies, and other cities through Faces of Buffalo LLC.

Faces of Buffalo State College and their Community, which depicts a mosaic of Rockwell Hall, was completed in May 2004.  Other clients include schools, companies and organizations such as Leadership Buffalo, Upstate New York Transplant Services, Paint Box Project at Roswell Park, The BISON Scholarship Fund, D'Youville College, AmeriCorps, a variety of schools and more.
 

Media Coverage...

Faces of Buffalo has been written about in Artvoice, The Buffalo News and Buffalo Spree Magazine. Brian Nesline has appeared locally on Artscope, WIVB’s The Why Guy w/ Kevin O'Neill  and AM Buffalo. Mr. Nesline also offers freelance Graphic Design, interactive projects, speaking engagements and special promotions.

Currently expanding the “Faces of…” innovation to other cities; Nesline envisions Faces of America.

This Website www.facesofbuffalo.com serves as the local hub for the entire Faces of Buffalo experience. Through the site you can stay in touch, explore unique services and learn about fundraising and leadership opportunities designed for schools and not-for-profits.

Brian Nesline can be reached at 716.854.5033
or email: facesofbuffalo@hotmail.com