The Austin Studio Tour is here! Do you know which artists you’re going to see?
Every year Big Medium releases their tour line-up I immediately feel excited, then slowly my anxiety creeps in. With 420+ artists & collectives on the list this year, it’s hard to figure out where to start, what to see and how to make it all happen.
Last year we remedied this with our ART Bus Tour, but this year, in an effort to remain safe and socially distant, we got some help from our artist friends to recommend a wide range of stops.
From at-home workshops & exclusive artist videos to a collaborative art scavenger hunt, there are tons of ways to experience local art this weekend and next. So get your planning underway by checking out our recommended artists to see during the Austin Studio Tour.
WHAT: You can explore Amanda’s work both virtually and irl! She’s making 6-10 new pieces that will be for sale exclusive to the tour, along with her current body of work. You can also visit her large paper outdoor art installation at Art for the People that will be up during both weekends. If you feel like going on a scavenger hunt, she’s also collaborated with several artists who have donated art that will be hidden around the city during the tour. Follow @secretprezzieproject for clues on where to find the presents!
WHEN: Both weekends
WHERE: Installation at Art for the People: 1711 S. 1st St. Virtual release of new work on Instagram
FOLLOW: @thepapercommittee // @secretprezzieproject
WHAT: Issue 18 cover artists, Juan Villegas and Rosemary Allen, collaborated on a mural and an outdoor installation dedicated to art & nature as bringers of hope. There is also work and merch in the studio gallery available for viewing & purchasing.
WHEN: Both weekends. On Nov 21 from 3pm-9pm there will be outdoor live music and an outdoor artist talk. The event is free and people will have the option of buying a wristband for drinks. Event link.
WHERE: Treegarden, 638 Tillery St. Austin, TX 78702
FOLLOW: @villegasartist // @rosemarykallen // @treegarden
WHAT: High Craft Market is an at home exhibition that will be represented with a digital album which goes live on Saturday, November 14th. Artist Celina Zisman is also hosting a live chat with fellow Austin Studio Tour artist, Lys Santamaria to talk about the show on November 14th at 1pm. Info and updates can also be found here.
WHEN: Both weekends. Live artist talk on Saturday, November 14th at 1pm.
WHERE: Virtual
FOLLOW: @dugfreshatx // @lys.artist
WHAT: Join in on the fun by following along a Virtual Mosaic Workshop with J Muzacz & visiting the Outdoor Self-Guided “Legends” Mosaic Portraits Group Exhibition. Pixel art mosaic kit includes everything you will need to make your own artwork ($15/each, includes 4-5 in. base, assorted 8mm glass tiles, and Weldbond adhesive.)
Pick up mosaic kits on Sat. Nov 14th from 11am-6pm at Something Cool Studios, 1717 E. Cesar Chavez St. Then log in to Zoom and create together remotely during the virtual workshop on Sunday, November 15th from 11am-1pm. Contact via email [email protected] for the Zoom invitation link.
Alongside the virtual Mosaic Workshop is the curated, self-guided outdoor art exhibit, with a dozen Legends portraits project on display at the Boggy Creek Greenbelt at 888 Nile St. 78702. Mosaic portraits made by local female BIPOC artists depict local and national female civil rights leaders. Content will also be accessible for remote viewing using your smartphone and the free PixelStix app, just search for the “Legends” map.
WHEN: Virtual Mosaic workshop on Sunday, Nov 15th from 11am-1pm & live artist talk at 1pm. Self-guided outdoor art exhibit both weekends from 11am-6pm
WHERE: Virtual Workshop // Outdoor Exhibit at 888 Nile St. on the Boggy Creek Greenbelt
FOLLOW: @jmuzacz //@atxmosaicworkshop
WHAT: Maridad Studio is hosting, “Celebrations of the Past” – a virtual original art series sale! Join online this year from the comfort of your home to see what the studio has been cooking up!
“I have personally selected some of my top illustrations from over the years to create a series called “Celebrations of the Past.” Each of these newly improved pieces are like “snapshots” which have been fragmented from my past work to celebrate the smaller more delicately detailed moments. These custom framed 7x7in square pieces are a reminder of the past while melding with the present, as each piece is slightly elevated from the original. Stop by my website to see more!”
WHEN: First 7-8 pieces will be live by Nov 14th with a few additional pieces released the 2nd weekend. Live Q&A on Instagram, Friday Nov. 20th @7pm CST to talk more about the series
WHERE: Virtual
FOLLOW: @maridad.studio
WHAT: You can learn more about Emma and her work when her About the Artist video premieres on her site and the Austin Studio Tour main page. She’ll also let you virtually tour her studio where she’ll be selling various prints.
WHEN: Both weekends
WHERE: Virtual
FOLLOW: @emmavdart
WHAT: Catie Lewis will be hosting a virtual gallery on her website. She will have a video explaining her process & background along with a 3D exhibit for solely checking out the pieces.
WHEN: Gallery will be up Nov 14th-22nd
WHERE: Virtual
FOLLOW: @catiegl.art
WHAT: JR will be offering short virtual tours of her studio from Nov 14th-22nd on Instagram daily. She will also share time lapsed videos of her painting & share her personal progression as an artist and her current work.
WHEN: November 14th-22nd
WHERE: Virtual
FOLLOW: @jr_rapier_fineart
WHAT: See Jared’s glass works in person at his outdoor sale! He’ll have an outdoor display of items for sale including drinkware, vases, bowls, glass pumpkins, and a discount table filled with 1/2 price oddities. You can also take a virtual visit of his studio on the Austin Studio Tour main page and see his “Making of an Oak Grain Rocks Glass.”
WHEN: Both weekends. Outdoor Sale on November 21st & 22nd from 10am – 4pm
WHERE: 2012 Jones Rd., Austin, TX 78745
FOLLOW: @jfr_glass
WHAT: You can view Richard’s Leaf series which he created with watercolor along with pen-and-ink works on paper for this year’s tour. There is also a video on his website of the Hebraic Fragment Series shown at Soma Vida.
WHEN: Both weekends
WHERE: Virtual
FOLLOW: @rutnerstudio
WHAT: Visual artist, April Garcia will be presenting her solo exhibit, My Little Biomorphic Pony, featuring her recent soft sculpture series at Collection Rert during the Austin Studio Tour. Sculpture works inside the gallery will be viewable from the outside through a gallery window. In addition, an outdoor installation created by the collaborative superpowers between April Garcia and Amanda Jones named Fort Rasquache will be available for your viewing pleasure. Using disposed and everyday recycled materials, the collaborative team gives the found materials new life to create a grand little space of their own.
WHEN: Both weekends. RSVP time slot for window viewing
WHERE: 2608 Rogers Ave Unit b, Austin, TX 78722
FOLLOW: @austinpeach // @collectionrert
WHAT: You can view unique assemblage artwork by Scott Rolfe both weekends! He will be participating virtually via website, Facebook, Instagram and Youtube.
WHEN: Both weekends
WHERE: Virtual
FOLLOW: @scottiusr
WHAT: Chelsea’s theme this year is Kitsch, Cults, and COVID19. She is partnering with Hummell Art who does venetian plaster contemporary artwork. She describes her art exhibit as having “something for everyone.” The exhibit will be hosted outdoors during the day during the first weekend, along with a special nighttime “Gallery Under the Stars” on November 19th.
WHEN: Outdoor Daytime Exhibit on November 14th & 15th , from 10am-6pm. Gallery Under the Stars on November 19th from 6-10pm.
WHERE: 1123 Lott Avenue, Austin, TX 78721
FOLLOW: @chelseascreename // @hummellart
14Chad Rea
WHAT: Chad Rea has 4 unique events planned for each day of the Austin Studio Tour. The first weekend you can TRASH TALK CHAD REA’S CURRENT EXHIBITION on Saturday and learn ways to put your creative talents to good by serving the underserved with ART FOR SOCIAL GOOD WITH CHAD REA on Sunday.
During the 2nd weekend, you can join Chad for WATCHING PAINT DRY WITH CHAD REA live on Instagram on Saturday. To close out the tours, join Chad Rea as he spins The Wheel of Insanity live for insane discounts on original paintings, prints, merch, and more during CHAD REA’S AWFULLY INSANE ART PURGE!
WHEN: TRASH TALK CHAD REA’S CURRENT EXHIBITION: Saturday, November 14th at 7PM, ART FOR SOCIAL GOOD WITH CHAD REA: Sunday, November 15th at 4PM, WATCHING PAINT DRY WITH CHAD REA: Saturday, November 21st at 7PM & CHAD REA’S AWFULLY INSANE ART PURGE: Sunday, November 22nd at 4PM
WHERE: Virtual
FOLLOW: @chadrea
WHAT: Carol’s work will be on the newly expanded Austin Studio Tour website November 14th through the 22nd. You can also contact Carol directly via email for more information at [email protected]
WHEN: Both weekends
WHERE: Virtual
FOLLOW: carolhayman.weebly.com
WHAT: It’s positively Cosmic! After months in the making, the BIG REVEAL will take place at noon on Saturday, Nov. 14th 2020. See this kid-friendly immersive art installation then – and through January 13, 2021!
WHEN: Both weekends
WHERE: 1300 block of Broadmoor Drive (at Windsor Park), Austin, TX 78723
FOLLOW: @giantletter
WHAT: Christy will be premiering a two videos on her website, “My Favorite Paintings: What Inspired the Work” & “How Covid has Changed my Work” on the Saturdays of both weekends. She’ll also be live painting in the studio each Sunday so that you can tune in to watch her process and ask her questions!
WHEN: Both weekends. Videos on Saturdays at 11am. Live painting + Q&A on Sundays at 2pm
WHERE: Virtual
FOLLOW: @cstallop
WHAT: Red Herring is participating in the Austin Studio Tour with a virtual launch on their site and a very unique outdoor exhibition. You can visit the outdoor gallery in their backyard, complete with a classic VW selfie booth in the front.
“This 1974 Superbeetle is an art car I drove for fifteen years that is about to be donated to benefit KMFA 89.5.”
Canned ciders and soft drinks will be served alongside a small fire for marshmallow skewers.
WHEN: Both weekends
WHERE: Virtual & Outdoor Gallery: 910A Bret Lane, Austin, TX 78721
FOLLOW: @redherringatx
WHAT: If you’re looking for plans each day of the tour, Lys has got you covered. On Saturday, November 14th, Lys will join Celina Zisman of High Craft Market for an intimate conversation about life as a creative today. You can watch and ask questions by tuning in live on Instagram at 1pm. RSVP here. On Sunday, November 15th, Lys will launch a video, Before I Begin, to give viewers a behind the scenes look at her daily routines.
The following weekend Lys will drop another video, Things I’ve Never Shared, on November 21st. To close out the Tour, Lys will launch one more video, Studio Tour, so you can see how she’s transformed her tiny apartment into an art studio. All of these videos will be launched and available to watch here.
WHEN: Both weekends
WHERE: Virtual
FOLLOW: @lys.artist
WHAT: Watch Mihai’s live digital illustration demo this Sunday, November 15th from 1-2pm! See how vibrant sketches come to life using basic tools on Adobe Illustrator. Tune in on Instagram live. You can also view Mihai’s work on the main Austin Studio Tour website & visit Instagram for time lapses and behind the scenes content.
WHEN: Both weekends. Demo will be live on Instagram November 15th from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm CST
WHERE: Virtual
FOLLOW: @mihaidraws
