From the Midwest, now living in Austin, TX, Austin received his BFA in Painting and Drawing from Ball State University. He has been showing his work across the country for nearly 20 years. His work continually engages his viewers, stimulates conversation, while challenging the audience to sometimes think outside the box.
Austin is interested in the powerful dynamics of relationships; with one's self, with our neighbor, with our environment or observing a relationship from afar, and interpreting that into a medium that he can then convey to an audience.
It was at art school where he learned about storytelling and the power of the image.
Fully believing the quote “The Medium is the Message” from author Marshall McLuhan; with Austin being a visual artist, this allows the message to decide which medium best illustrates the piece.
Austin is influenced by films like “Days of Heaven” directed by Terrence Malick for its use of naturally evocative light, and Les Blank’s collection of documentaries that truly and candidly capture the human spirit by bringing you into their world.
He also appreciates the acute sensibility of capturing the human condition as seen in films such as “Hud” directed by Martin Ritt and “The Last Picture Show” based off the novel by Larry McMurtry.
Most importantly, it’s about the experience and sense of adventure as seen in the films “Paris, Texas” by Wim Wenders, and “Into the Wild” by Sean Penn, and read in the American classic novel “On The Road” written by Jack Kerouac with each possessing a strong sense of place and travel that allow the viewer or reader to place themselves in each environment and situation.
It is from artists like Kara Walker, Francis Bacon, Lucien Freud, Alice Neel and Shepard Fairey, all of whose work is undeniably singular, in which he has created his own particular voice and style of visual storytelling.
By combining his love of film, literature and painting, he is able to weave a visually evocative story that pays homage to his artistic predecessors all the while creating a piece that is individually unique.