Exhibit Opening: Visions of Utica: The City in Oils by Paul Parker, 1952-1968

New Exhibition Opens Thursday, June 25, 2026

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