Episode #33 feat. Christen Austin

In this episode, Eric sits down with the talented Christen Austin; California native visual artist. They discuss her early exposures to art, artistic influences and how her Mother is also an artist. She sheds light on her educational background, studying Biology, how it lends to her artistic approach. How she transitioned into becoming a full-time artist and the challenges faced by up and coming artists. She describes her process, the media she uses and how she characterizes her style of work —  being mostly figurative and the themes she explores in her work she describes as representational; using people of color as her subjects to illustrate what people of color experience on a daily basis and expressing that in a symbolic and psychological way. They delve into various works she has created to date, how she promotes her work, manages her career… her upcoming projects and solo show!

Guest Bio: As a black female artist living in America, Austin feels that it is important to provide imagery that represents the black community in a way that encompasses positivity and relatability. Much of the legacy of African American art and expression has been based on the experiences and truths of black people and has often been created in opposition to the images and perceptions forced upon them by eurocentric ideologies. Her current focus is building a body of work that captures the beauty of black culture and explores the depths of its universal qualities. Throughout the development of Austin’s art career, she has have worked with many different types of media such as colored pencil, pastel, pen and ink, watercolor, graphics and design, and sculpture. However, her primary medium of choice is acrylic paint which has enabled me to create works with a broad range of color and complexity. Every piece incorporates narration through human figures and portraits and embodies the artistic movement of surrealism. Her goal is to tell stories, inspire new ideas, and challenge the way that people see the world through a perspective that is rooted in my own personal experiences as well as my understanding and connection with the experiences of others. She wants the viewer to connect with her work on a level that exceeds its visual appeal and allows for them to interact with each piece psychologically and emotionally as well. Art has always been her passion and has since become her voice in a society that seems to limit and silence you at every turn. She has learned that in art, the possibilities are endless and this very idea of possibility is what she wants to represent through my work. As an expansion of her focus, she wants to communicate the importance of representation in art, especially when it comes to art in the black community, and illustrate that we as black people can occupy any and every space, real and imaginary.

https://www.caustinarts.com