The Essex Street Arts Center, located on Essex Street on Buffalo’s West Side, was started by Larry W. Griffis Jr. in 1969 to serve as a place for artists to live, create, show their work and grow as creative individuals.

The Center was the first of its kind in Buffalo and was ahead of its time. The complex has many studios presently occupied by painters, musicians, sculptors, photographers, draftsman, filmmakers, and Big Orbit Gallery. The complex itself is a turn-of-the-century Ice House and is composed of four buildings.

The Essex Arts Center is part of the Ashford Hollow Foundation, which also operates Griffis Sculpture Park in Ashford Hollow, New York.