Austin is more than just America’s live music capital. It’s also a premier destination for art, artists, and designers. From art museums to galleries and cooperatives, there’s a wealth of art to appreciate and enjoy in downtown Austin and on the University of Texas campus.
If you want to get better acquainted with the art scene that thrives in the vicinity of your Austin apartments, here are a few are depositories to explore.
The Contemporary Austin
The Contemporary Austin, already sleekly designed and well-curated, will undergo a renovation to give its design even more aesthetic appeal and increase its exhibition space by 40 percent. This will enable it to host larger exhibitions. The Austin art museum’s venerated rooftop will also be covered by an open-air canopy so, without compromising its impressive views, it can be used in all weather. The expansion is slated to start in the summer of 2016. If you live at AMLI Downtown, AMLI 300, or AMLI on 2ND, you’ll be able to keep tabs on the expansion as you’re out and about in the neighborhood. When the expansion’s complete, visit the space for some inspiration on decorating your apartment in the contemporary style.
Women and their Work
Just south of the UT campus, Women and their Work is an organization dedicated to supporting and promoting art produced by women. Largely run by volunteers, the non-profit offers financial and technical support to female artists in Austin and throughout the state. Admission to the gallery is free but donations are encouraged and support the good work the organization does.
grayDUCK Gallery
Just a five-minute drive from AMLI Eastside, grayDUCK Gallery showcases an engaging collection of contemporary Austin art. “Confluence Then Redaction,” a colorful collection of silk screen and mixed media works by artists Jonas Criscoe and Brian Johnson, is on display from now until November 22, 2015.
Wally Workman Gallery
A five-minute stroll from AMLI 300 sits the Wally Workman Gallery. Specializing in “emerging and collected talent,” the gallery’s collection features works by some 60 talented artists. Most of the art on display here is available for sale, so take a peek and see what you think would look good on the walls of your luxury Austin apartment.
Blanton Museum of Art
With a permanent collection of more than 17,000 works, the Blanton Museum of Art has one of the largest and most impressive collections of any university art museum in the country. Housed on the UT campus, the collection features works from a range of geographic regions and eras, with emphasis on European, Latin American, and contemporary American art.
Mexic-Arte Museum
The Mexic-Arte Museum celebrates the heritage of the Austin area through art inspired by inhabitants of the region over time. Currently on display until November 22, 2015 is an exhibit showcasing 31 years of the museum’s Dia de los Meurtos celebrations. Learn about the evolution of this holiday and its influence on cultures throughout Mexico and the United States. The museum is a five-minute walk northeast of AMLI Downtown and AMLI on 2ND.
Cathedral of Junk
A continuous work in progress, the Cathedral of Junk is an artistic structure that screams Austin. If you have yet to visit Vince Hannemann’s unique creation, put it on your calendar. The structurally sound tower Hannemann has constructed over the course of the last three decades is built entirely from things that others no longer wanted. The Cathedral of Junk is just a 10-minute drive from AMLI South Shore.
There you have it. Much of it’s eclectic, some of it’s more conventional, but Austin has a well-curated and strongly supported art scene. And it’s just waiting for you to take advantage. Visit the finest Austin art museums to satiate your thirst for artistic exposure, or shop the city’s art galleries for decor for your apartment walls. Even if you don’t find the perfect piece at the perfect price, the experience should leave you inspired.
What are your favorite Austin art collections? Do you have any tips for choosing wall art?
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View All Posts by Jason Ernst