Traveling Street Art

Art of Banksy comes to Austin in immersive event with signature secrecy

Banksyland will be somewhere in the UT Austin area July 22-24.

Photo courtesy of One Thousand Ways

Street artist Banksy has always been known for his secrecy, and Austin will get a taste of that when the new immersive art exhibition, Banksyland, comes to the city for a brief stint, July 22-24.

Taking place in a secret location somewhere in Austin that will be revealed to ticketholders only two weeks before the opening of the event, Banksyland is an international touring exhibition that immerses audiences in the works of the elusive artist, according to the event website. As of now, the only hint we have is an Austin ZIP code: 78712, which encompasses parts of the University of Texas campus.

The exhibit, also scheduled to be in the Dallas Arts District, June 24-July 4, and Houston, August 12-14, features more than 80 pieces and installations, including original and studio works, salvaged street artworks, and never-before-seen immersive installations.

Despite having produced art since the 1990s, Banksy’s identity remains unknown. He is understood to have been born in Bristol, England in the mid-1970s and emerged from Bristol’s graffiti and street art scene. His work came to be known after several high-profile conceptual stunts, including the illegal placement of subversive pieces inside some of the art world’s most hallowed galleries. Perhaps his most famous prank was when he installed an automatic shredder inside the frame of his iconic Balloon Girl painting, causing the the piece to self destruct upon its sale at auction.

Banksy’s most recognizable works are stenciled graffitis that combine mundane imagery juxtaposed with unexpected objects and slogans. Sometimes cynical, sometimes hopeful, Banksy’s work is decidedly political, taking aim at militarism, consumerism, capitalism, and greed. His iconic stencil pieces depicting rats, apes, and policemen have been spotted throughout the globe, drawing widespread attention wherever they appear.

The Austin event will take place over three days, July 22-24, with multiple time slots starting at 12 pm each day. Tickets range from $22-$59 and are now on sale at banksyland.com.

The exhibition is produced by One Thousand Ways, an international experiential arts collective specializing in innovative immersive events.

Banksy is the latest artist to get an immersive treatment in Texas, including the popular "Beyond Van Gogh" experience at Austin's Circuit of The Americas.

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Historic Austin museum will close for more than a year for restoration

Photo courtesy of the City of Austin

The Elisabet Ney Museum will close at the end of 2024 and reopen in mid-2026.

Every building needs some maintenance here or there, and the historic Elisabet Ney Museum needs some extra-special care. Formerly the art studio and residence of its namesake, it's been standing since 1892. It'll spend 2025 in relative solitude, as it undergoes renovation for a year and a half with no visitors allowed.

The museum will close to the public December 30, 2024, and open again in the summer of 2026 if all goes according to plan, a news release from the City of Austin shares. It'll be a quiet period compared to the 21,000 people visiting from around the world each year.

According to a museum overview on the city's website, Elisabet Ney, a European portrait sculptor, bought the property and called her new studio Formosa. She worked on sculptures depicting important Texans like Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, and collected works of European contemporaries.

The building at 304 East 44th St. includes 3,700 square feet of museum space, which was converted by Ney's friends after her death in 1907. It retains its unique look that juxtaposes a Neo-Classical main studio from 1892 with a later addition from 1902 including a tower for her husband, Edmund, to write in. It is also on 2.5 acres of land, which has largely been restored to its natural state with native species.

A press release lists these tasks (verbatim) within the scope of the new work, referred to as the Capital Improvement Project (CIP):

Restoration of original exterior wood doors and windows
Upgrades and replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
Replacement of the exhibit and general lighting systems
Repairs to the roof, masonry, plumbing, and interior finishes.

There will also be work to do outside of the building. Workers will replace the pedestrian bridge across Waller Creek, stabilize a 20,000-square-foot portion of the bank, and make the grounds more accessible by adding new pathways.

Funding comes from several sources, according to a release: "the 2012 Bond, Proposition 14, the Parkland Dedication Fund, the Historic Preservation Fund, Partners in Preservation through the National Trust, and contributions from the Friends of the Elisabet Ney Museum."

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Historic Austin museum will close for more than a year for restoration