West Austin Studio Tour

5 exhibits you don't want to miss during West Austin Studio Tour

The 2016 West Austin Studio Tour is here, giving art enthusiasts a chance to peek into the lives and work of local artists west of I-35, east of MoPac, south of Highway 183, and north of William Cannon Drive. The fifth annual West takes place from 11 am to 6 pm on May 14-15 and 21-22 and is free and open to the public.

If West sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve heard of EAST (East Austin Studio Tour), which happens every fall and is also hosted by parent company Big Medium, a local nonprofit that supports and promotes contemporary art in Texas. While West is Big Medium’s newer project, EAST is coming up on its 15th year in Austin and showcases more than 400 different local art projects.

Over the last five years, West has expanded from simple studio and gallery exhibitions to include five categories of events: artist studios; galleries; temporary exhibitions, such as pop-up shows; happenings (time-based events like performances or parties); and partner programs, showcasing organizations and businesses that support the arts year-round in Austin. West is self-guided, and though it may be smaller and newer than EAST, the tour spans a much wider geographical area, so you’ll have to plan accordingly to visit some of the most interesting and beautiful exhibits.

We’ve highlighted some of the best exhibitions you can’t miss on this year’s tour. To see a full list of participants, visit West’s website, and be sure to pick up the 2016 West catalog and map, which is free at all Austin Public Library branches.

Ann Richards School for Young Women
The work of some of Austin’s most promising young artists will be on display at the Ann Richards School, featuring art from the school’s students and others in Austin ISD. Professional artists’ work will also be on display, and their will be healthy snacks and live performances every 30 minutes, as well as a plant sale hosted by the Ann Richards School’s 6th grade class — which will probably be pretty adorable.

Manik Raj Nakra
Thick tropical jungles, exotic animals, severed heads, ancient architecture, and romance — this is what you can find at 33-year-old Manik Raj Nakra’s studio. It promises bursts of color that bridges contemporary art, post-colonial anachronisms, and historical Indian iconography.

Austin Art Refugees presents "Sound: Vision"
"Sound: Vision" features five Austin artists: Bart Kibbe, Ann Wieding, Hannah Lee, Dave McClinton, and Patrick Moran. The exhibition bridges sound and visual art, with each artist interpreting the theme influenced by the sounds created at the Austin Art Refugees gallery within Space Recording and Rehearsal.

XYZ Atlas: The Hedonic Map of Austin Finale
The Hedonic Map of Austin is Jennifer Chenoweth's devotional to Austin as part of a multiyear project aimed to shape and visualize the hyperlocal experiences of Austin residents. Since 2013, Chenoweth has used XYZ Atlas to explore how individual attachments to place can convey a larger collective experience within a community. She surveyed more than 450 Austin residents about what is important to them about the city then took those stories and created art ranging from live mapping events to sculptures and 3D maps of the city, in which emotions are mapped on an X, Y, and Z axis. The final part of the project will be showcased during West at Barton Springs Pool, and it's sure to give you all the feels about the city we call home.

Empty House Productions: Indoor Games
"Empty House" isn't just a name — it's literally what the project entails. You won't want to skip out on this pop-up art show in an empty house that pulls together what organizers call a "motley crew of artists, derelicts, international castaways, dilettantes, hommes du monde, enthusiastic aficionados, and possibly a couple of enlightened idiots too..." (It sounds like they fit into Austin just fine.) The exhibition will feature paella and cocktails, and you can even purchase art with just a hug (maybe). This definitely sounds like one of the funkiest stops on the tour.

The West Austin Studio Tour takes place May 14-15 and 21-22.

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State of the Arts

80+ artists in 6 exhibits to beat the heat with in Austin

For Austinites looking for a burst of creativity and inspiration this month, the local art scene has got you covered. A series of newly opened exhibits collectively showcase the talent of more than 80 artists. From deeply personal stories to imaginative reimaginings of cultural icons, these exhibits offer a diverse array of media and styles.

At Art for the People, the Evolving group exhibition brings together works from 40 talented artists. Over at Davis Gallery, The West That Never Was reimagines Wild West iconography with Felice House's bold oil paintings and Dana Younger's whimsical sculptures, offering a playful take on classic Western motifs.

In addition, the Austin Public Library hosts "Art from the Streets" through September 29, an exhibition that highlights the powerful stories and talents of unhoused artists, demonstrating the transformative benefits of art in fostering acceptance and community.

Art for the People

Group Exhibition: Evolving— through August 17
Art for the People showcases an eclectic mix of works from 40 artists, inviting viewers to explore a wide range of artistic expressions. Highlights include Olga Dukowski, who channels her fascination with the spiritual world into her evocative paintings; Betsy Denny, an abstract painter who draws on her diverse background and experiences to shape her vision as a self-taught artist; and Andrea Muñoz Martinez, who creates pieces inspired by the vast landscapes of Uvalde, Texas, and Piedras Negras, Mexico. This diverse exhibition offers a journey through various artistic styles and perspectives.

Davis Gallery

Felice House and Dana Younger: The West That Never Was— through August 24
This exhibition reimagines Wild West iconography. Featuring House's vibrant oil on canvas paintings and Younger's evocative sculptures crafted from bronze, ash, maple, and pine, the collection explores and challenges traditional Western motifs. House's paintings capture striking figures, all bearing cowboy hats or wielding six-shooters, while Younger's sculptures draw inspiration from collectible toys and cacti sprouting from highways. Together, their works create a more whimsical look into the imagery of the American West.

Mexic-Arte Museum

Group Exhibition: Creating Encuentros: Changarrito — through August 25
Changarrito brings the vibrant, community-driven spirit of Mexico's street markets to the heart of Austin. Inspired by the ubiquitous changarritos — food carts and small local shops — within the region, this initiative provides a platform for artists to showcase their work outside traditional gallery spaces. The Changarrito cart has allowed artists to engage directly with the public. This year, the museum celebrates the legacy of the cart with a special exhibition featuring works from more than 100 artists, interactive pieces, and a mural titled "Tejas Forever" by Stephen Longoria

Link & Pin

Greg Barton, Dolphin Brown, and Samantha Melvin: Summer Exposure III— August 15 through September 1
This exhibition features the works of Greg Barton, Dolphin Brown, and Samantha Melvin. Melvin's mixed-media botanical abstractions celebrate the dynamic interconnection between nature and humanity, using drawing, painting, and printmaking to explore the interplay between built structures and organic geographies. Brown, known for her innovative video "paintings," creates profound, introspective works that encourage viewers to find peace and consciousness. Barton, an artist who paints with his fingers, captures the essence of landscapes from Cape Cod to Texas, translating the beauty of nature and its elements into vibrant, tactile art.

Wally Workman Gallery

Stephanie Strange and Joseph Janson — August 3 through September 1
Strange & Janson’s works capture the essence of movement in intricate detail. Stephanie Strange’s drawings are meticulously detailed, evoking patterns reminiscent of fingerprints or the grooves in a shell, creating an almost kinetic feel. Her interdisciplinary approach explores themes of energy and connection. Joseph Janson, an Austin-based artist with a diverse artistic background, showcases wire sculptures that encapsulate movement and relationships. After more than thirty years focusing on painting, Janson has recently shifted to carving wood, drawing, and incorporating a wider variety of materials into his work. His sculptures have been exhibited at various prestigious venues, including the Austin Museum of Art at Laguna Gloria and Blue Star Art Space in San Antonio.

Austin Public Library

Group Exhibition: Art from the Streets— through September 29
The artists of AFTS possess a unique voice, telling stories of life on the streets, heartbreak, marginalization, and rich lived experiences. Their art provides healing by allowing them to share their stories, while the warm reception they receive at shows fosters a sense of acceptance and belonging. In 2023, 40 dedicated artists regularly participated in Art from the Streets, each contributing 2-3 pieces. This exhibition not only showcases their talent but also educates the public about the transformative benefits of art for those that are unhoused in Austin.