Springfield. New New York. The Land of Ooo. Fictional locations we all know so well, but what happens when the lights go down and the cameras stop rolling? UnReal Estate, Austin print artist Tim Doyle’s series of shows for San Francisco’s Spoke Art gallery, catches those empty times, and now his vision of our collective entertainment subconscious is assembled in this one glossy art book. Complete with essays by Spoke Art founder Ken Harman, illustrator Godmachine, the Chronicle‘s own Wayne Alan Brenner, and more, this volume brings together the complete run from the first three shows. From the Red Keep to Trenzalore, from the Kwik-E-Mart to Monk’s Cafe, Doyle’s landscapes imbue these glossy locales with a lived-in mournfulness, often suffocating in falling evening shadows. Just remember, there’s always money in the banana stand (wink!).

UnReal Estate: The Book

by Tim Doyle
Nakatomi, 150 pp., $40

This article appears in December 16 • 2016.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.