07-03-2025
‘The loss of Mickey and Jordan hits too close': Friends react to death of Allentown artists
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Allentown community is still in shock trying to process the loss of two prominent artists who were tragically killed in their home. Now, friends are speaking out making sure everyone remembers the people Michael Harmon and Jordan Celotto were.
Flowers and candles now line the Stonewall mural on Allen Street, a piece of artwork that Harmon helped create.
On top of being an artist, Harmon was a board member of the Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project, an organization that aims to preserve local LGBTQ history.
'Mickey wasn't the type of gay person who would make himself smaller and more palatable in order to be acceptable to the community and society at large,' explained Ana Grujic, one of the founders of the project. 'He celebrated all the complex, amazing parts of queer history and LGBTQ culture.'
Grujic went on to say Harmon always took the time to stop and give people attention, showing how deeply he cared about every person he connected with.
Community shares condolences after two Allentown artists found dead in home
Friends of Mickey and Jordan say the two had an incomparable bond. They described Mickey as the light of every room he walked into. They say Jordan kept more to himself but had a personality like no other.
'Jordan and Mickey would just show up and show out and always show love and support,' said Jay Aquarious who met Mickey over 10 years ago. 'We'd praise each other, tell each other that we're doing good, support each other. We were truly there for each other.'
Aquarious says both men were committed to making sure all of the events they put on were inclusive to everyone. He says there was never a moment he felt left out or looked at differently when he was around the couple.
'They didn't care about how anybody felt about them,' Aquarious explained. 'They didn't deserve to go out like that. None of them deserved it.'
Harmon would oftentimes collaborate with the Buffalo AKG Art Museum where he was a part of the Public Art Initiative.
'Mickey was a pillar of our community in every sense. We were honored to collaborate with him many times throughout the last ten years,' the Buffalo AKG Museum said in a statement. 'Mickey was always himself, and he was beautiful. The work of his life permeates the fabric of Buffalo and Buffalo is better for it.'
An event called 'Queertopia', a performance of art, music, and dancing all by queer artists was supposed to be taking place this weekend. Instead, the event will be a night of remembrance for the two men taken too soon.
You can find more information on the event here.
GoFundMe pages have also been created to help pay for funeral expenses. You can find Jordan's GoFundMe here and Michael's GoFundMe here.
Trina Catterson joined the News 4 team in 2024. She previously worked at WETM-TV in Elmira, a sister station of WIVB. See more of her work here.
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