Liberty Street, 1952, by Paul ParkerNew Exhibition Opens Thursday, June 25, 2026

Utica, N.Y. — Visions of Utica: The City in Oils by Paul Parker, 1952-1968, a new exhibit at Oneida County History Center, opens Thursday, June 25, 2026. This show, on loan and in collaboration with the Paul Parker Utica Trust, features iconic scenes of Utica’s past from artist Paul Parker, former chair of the Art Department at Hamilton College. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, June 25, from 5:00-7:00 pm at 1608 Genesee Street, Utica.

This exhibit highlights scenes of Utica captured by Parker between 1952 and 1968, just before urban renewal transformed the city’s skyline forever. These iconic images mostly depict a Utica that no longer exists, serving as a nostalgic homecoming for long-time residents and a history lesson for visitors and post-urban-renewal Uticans.

“Paul Parker’s decision to paint this city, capturing it in oils from the early 1950s through the late 1960s, is remarkable,” said Cassandra Harris-Lockwood, trustee. “He could not have foreseen how dramatically the city would soon change. Preserving this collection is a lasting gift for us and future generations. His vision to return it to the City of Utica through the trust, offering both visual enjoyment and support for creative individuals, is both profound and inspiring. I am honored to have known him and to be entrusted with the mission of supporting the arts for those whose talents exceed their means.”

Parker (1905-1987) was an influential artist and educator born in LaGrange, Illinois. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the American Academy of Art. Parker served as head of the Art Department at the University of South Dakota and held directorships at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and the Des Moines Art Center. From 1948 to 1970, he was a professor of art at Hamilton College in central New York. His work was exhibited across the U.S., including at notable venues such as the New York World's Fair and the Carnegie International, as well as local exhibitions at Colgate University, Kirkland Art Center, and Utica College.

Dates: Open June 25 through August 20, 2026

Hours: Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m

Location: Oneida County History Center, 1608 Genesee Street, Utica, NY 13502

About the Oneida County History Center:

Oneida County History Center is a private, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to preserving the history, heritage, and culture of the Greater Mohawk Valley for current and future generations. Admission is free for History Center members, and a $5.00 donation is suggested for non-members. For more information, call 315-735-3642 or visit oneidacountyhistory.org.

About the Trust

The Paul Parker Utica Trust was established in 1984 by Parker and his close friends, Stephen and Cassandra Harris-Lockwood. Lockwood became Parker’s attorney when the artist was in tenure at Hamilton College. Harris-Lockwood is trustee of the collection. The trust's mission is to preserve Parker’s paintings and support the visual and performing arts for “artists whose talent exceeds their means” in the region.

The goal of the trust is to maintain a collection of 20 oil paintings, 3 watercolors, and 120 sketches created by Parker. Unlike traditional museum collections, these works "work for the present." Under the direction of the non-profit organization For the Good, Inc., the artworks are available for short-term rental to local businesses and individuals, with rental fees directly reinvested in community arts programming. The sketches are for sale. For more information, contact forthegoodinc@gmail.com.

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Photo caption, Liberty Street, Paul Parker, 1952