{"id":63639,"date":"2025-12-07T22:38:04","date_gmt":"2025-12-07T22:38:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/63639\/"},"modified":"2025-12-07T22:38:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T22:38:04","slug":"northeast-ohio-artists-work-on-display-in-brooklyn-news-herald","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/63639\/","title":{"rendered":"Northeast Ohio artist\u2019s work on display in Brooklyn \u2013 News-Herald"},"content":{"rendered":"

The annual Bay Ridge 5th Avenue Business Improvement District Community Banner Contest<\/a> is a competition so nice, Adrian Stupica decided to win it twice.<\/p>\n

Well, BID officials actually decided to name him the victor, but you get the gist \u2014 the man has skills.<\/p>\n

Stupica, a 2004 Mentor High School graduate, also won the contest last year with his design titled \u201cBay Ridge is Everything,\u201d transforming his love for art into creations seen by thousands daily in the South Brooklyn neighborhood.<\/p>\n

In addition to having his 2025 \u201cThe Heart of Bay Ridge\u201d banner displayed along Fifth Avenue on light poles stretching roughly 15 blocks until September 2026, the 39-year-old was also awarded a $500 prize from the Bay Ridge Fifth Avenue BID.<\/p>\n

The design depicts local businesses as heart icons, such as a bike chain heart for the bicycle shop, a popcorn heart for the movie theater, a pepperoni pizza heart for pizzerias, and a heart-shaped balloon for the party supply store, among others.<\/p>\n

\"AdrianAdrian Stupica’s 2025 winning banner design titled, \u201cThe Heart of Bay Ridge.\u201d (Submitted)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe business district is the beating heart of any community, especially Bay Ridge, which is what inspired the heart icons,\u201d Stupica said. \u201cTo win once is exciting, but winning twice is validating and proof that my designs resonate. As someone from Ohio and who has lived in Bay Ridge for the last six years, seeing my artwork on display makes me feel like I am earning my place in the community and making my mark on this place I now call home.\u201d<\/p>\n

The public relations professional first saw the inaugural contest promoted on the BID\u2019s Instagram account<\/a> and decided to submit his designs \u201con a whim,\u201d truly not thinking anything would come of his efforts.<\/p>\n

Time proved him wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201cI figured I would try again this year and secured my second victory, which is a huge honor,\u201d Stupica said. \u201cArt has always been a passion of mine, but my educational background is in strategic communications and business. I strive to make art that delivers a message and has intention. I am inspired not only by my upbringing in Mentor and the amazing art educators who laid my foundation, but in the constant inspiration that New York City offers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am also a huge pop culture fanatic, so that plays a part in jumpstarting my creativity as well,\u201d he added. \u201cThe contest only accepts original designs. Ironically, I was told that some of the submissions this year included AI-generated images, so the judging criteria needed to account for this, a sign of the times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stupica isn\u2019t quite sure about \u201ca threepeat\u201d just yet, but noted that he\u2019ll cross that bridge next year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am currently working on converting more of my apparel designs into digital format so that I can relaunch my website<\/a>, which I have paused for the last few years,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m hoping to re-establish my apparel brand and continue to make art a larger part of my professional life. That dream of being a full-time, professional artist is something that still intrigues me.\u201d<\/p>\n

As people noticed Stupica\u2019s designs, he started receiving requests for commissions, which helped his career evolve.<\/p>\n

He ended up painting two murals in Manhattan \u2014 one for the Andaz Fifth Avenue hotel\u2019s fifth anniversary, and one in First Street Green Park on the Lower East Side.<\/p>\n

He also collaborated on custom apparel for Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s stylist, Ty Hunter, Olympic powerlifter Donovan Ford and \u201cProject Runway\u201d alum Valerie Mayen, among others.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I navigated the New York City social scene, I noticed people were wearing similar styles of outfits that I would see at popular retailers,\u201d Stupica said. \u201cTo differentiate myself and harness a new creative outlet, I started painting on apparel so that I could not only advertise my work, but it was also much easier to store in my apartment.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs time went on and my custom, hand-painted designs became difficult to replicate on a mass scale, I started to convert my designs into a digital format, which is the medium I used to create my design for the banner contest,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Once the pandemic occurred, Stupica realized the need to establish a more consistent stream of revenue and decided to pursue public relations full-time, where he has been working with luxury brands since.<\/p>\n

Although he considers himself a New Yorker, his Northeast Ohio roots remain relevant.<\/p>\n

\u201cI must shout out my family and friends who have been supportive of me\u2026.they are a huge motivation for me,\u201d Stupica emphasized. \u201cI also want to shout out my art educators from Mentor, like Mrs. Blazey, Ms. Connor, Mrs. Kane and Mr. Reichert, who I am still great friends with today.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey created a safe space for students to express themselves, and having that outlet was truly lifesaving for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AdrianAdrian Stupica at work on his Andaz Fifth Avenue mural. (Submitted)<\/p>\n

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