Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Hormuth
Hi Austin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up I’ve always used art as a way to process life which made it easy to want to use my life to pursue it as a career. I grew up in Round Rock and was privileged to attend art school at The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC and in that year realize art school wasn’t what I needed at the time to pursue life as an artist. After that and the pandemic (along with some relationships good and bad) I had thought it wasn’t going to be possible as a career because I had forgotten the joy of just simply creating things. But after a lot of deep dives into artistry in any medium I could absorb and process I finally feel like I’m at the point where I can put myself genuinely into my art again.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No! Lots of things went wrong like dropping out of college to the constant dread the pandemic brought in the same year, to just trying to figure out how to survive while in the service industry as an “adult”. Then working a job that felt like a dream for 2 years which crashed and burned very poetically. But I’ve realized now to be grateful of the community I’ve built for myself which is just full of other artists and queers which is a comfort I never thought I’d have growing up in Texas than having to move back after dropping out. It was very world shattering having my first taste of queer liberation in NYC then moving back to Texas but I’ve just leaned into appreciating what is able to bloom in this hot hellscape for queers.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Outside of working in gay bars and creating communities in those spaces, I specialize in oil painting and hopefully will be able to find space in the gallery world. Currently I’m working on a series of oil paintings about the drag pageantry system which is a very important part of queer history in texas with roots from that system touching into every aspect of life that I enjoy in texas. I am proud of the techniques i’ve learned to put into my paintings from working and watching artists like Ivan Alifan to Louisiana Purchase, and how much dedication and time they have put into perfecting their craft. I honestly don’t think I have much yet to set myself apart from other artists because thats not my goal as an artist, which is to present queer story telling into a world that doesn’t know much about it or appreciate it as much as it should.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Honestly I’m just getting started myself and only really just know I need to take care of myself while keeping the dedication to my craft healthy so I don’t burn out. If anyone reads this an has advice.. girl dm me
Contact Info:
- Website: https://austinhormuthart.squarespace.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austinhormuthart?igsh=dnpmaHVib2k4YWM5
