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Artist J Muzacz, creator of the ATX Urban Art book, cataloging Austin’s graffiti, mural, mosaic, and street artists and their works. He takes us on a trip to some of his favorite works of street art around the city. Read Rachel Koper’s feature on Muzacz and his book. -
ArtsResponders COVID-19 mosaic (recycled and donated ceramic tile, glass, stone, and mirror, and with custom porcelain moments by Hope Hummingbird, 2021) ATX Urban Art editor J Muzacz, who was part of the volunteer team behind its creation, explains: “It was created during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a city of Austin arts and museums cultural department-sponsored initiative to commission social practice artists to create artwork and experiences in response to the pandemic in ways that people could safely socially distance and interact with. In my project, community members were asked to submit selfie photos of themselves and their families wearing their masks, to normalize and hopefully encourage this simple act to keep people safe. The imagery of an Afro-Latina peering over her mask is an amalgamation of those photos that were submitted, meant to evoke the reminder to practice safe hygiene such as recommended mask wearing in public. However the piece is ambiguous enough to inspire curiosity – is she a nurse working long hours in a hospital tending to COVID patients, or a caring mother trying to keep her children safe?” -
ArtsResponders COVID-19 mosaic. Ceramics artist Hope Hummingbird says, “I donated handmade porcelain tiles to this project. When you get close to the mosaic, you can see small portraits, hummingbirds, and messages. I am holding a tile with words that I wrote in 2016. When I saw more people expressing hate, I wanted to stand up against hate, but I also wanted to surround myself with love and trust. I believe there is power in uplifting each other, embracing our authentic selves, and fiercely protecting the rights of the people we love.” -
Redivivus (2021) by Candy Yu-Yen Kuo (@itscandykuo on Instagram). It’s the artist’s 70th mural and her largest to date. She explains, “I sobbed upon finishing it, something I haven’t done before, because at this point in my life it has come to mean so many things to me, especially since as recently as a year ago, I thought I’d never really paint again. … In some of my darkest moments I thought I was already dying. I was just a chrysalis waiting to become myself again.” -
Redivivus (2021) by Candy Yu-Yen Kuo -
Wade Thompson aka Fish (@manwithpencial on Instagram) with his daughter, Atticus, in front of Ride With the Tide, a piece he created for Looking Up Mural Fest 2022. It can be found on the side of El Milagro Tortilleria, 905 E. Seventh. -
Ride With the Tide by Wade Thompson aka Fish -
Something Cool Studios, 1717 E. Cesar Chavez -
Susanna Almanza, (Glass tile mosaic on concrete pavers, 2022) A portrait of the Austin activist, located at Something Cool Studios. Created in collaboration with PODER, Raasin in the Sun, and Mural Arts Philadelphia. -
Wolf mural painted as part of the Looking Up Mural Festival by Juan Villegas and Rosemary Allen at Something Cool Studios. -
Sculpture by Luis Angulo at Something Cool Studios. -
Sleep aka Sleep Is Famous in his studio. The artist is indeed famous for his iconic TV with legs, often seen on stickers around town. -
Danny Trejo by Levi Ponce at Something Cool Studios. -
Two-part mural by Juliana Chavez (l) and Brazilian artist Grupo Opni at Something Cool Studios. -
Ana Sisnet by J Muzacz, Carmen Rangel, and the Mosaic Workshop (Vitreous glass tile, ceramic, stone, porcelain, mirror and glass, 2021). It’s a portrait of the founder of tech nonprofit Austin Free-Net and can be found at Holly Commons, 2400 E. Cesar Chavez.
From the Walls to the Page: The Artists of ATX Urban Art
